Black pigs “hunted” for Tet dishes

Not only people in the mountainous areas, people in rural areas, including Hanoians, have developed a habit of slaughtering pigs for Tet (Lunar New Year holiday), especially the black pig, in recent years. 

Binh takes care of black pigs (Photo: Vietnam+)

This year, due to the impact of the African swine fever, the price of pigs is about 3-4 times higher than that of the previous year. However, it does not discourage consumers from "hunting" black pigs for Tet.

Not only people in the mountainous areas anymore, many people in rural areas, including Hanoians, have developed a habit of “slaughtering" pigs for Tet in recent years. "Slaughtering" pigs means that several families buy a pig together and then they slaughter it for its meat to use during the traditional New Year. When the last month of the lunar year comes, owners of many pig farms in the suburbs of Hanoi have started receiving deposits from customers. Nguyen Thuy - owner of a pig farm in Chuong My district, Hanoi, said “This year there is no scene of small businesses squeezing prices, but customers come and choose pigs by themselves. The best pigs weighing about 70-80 kg have been ordered. ”

Many people in Hanoi even take early Tet vacation, travelling to Lao Cai or Lai Chau provinces... to bring home black pigs, which they believe to be better than normal ones. These pigs, weighing only from 30-50kg, are raised by local people with only corn and mash, offering tasty sweet meat.

Many farmers can make fortune thanks to black pigs (Photo: Vietnam+)

Trung Kien at alley 328 Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi said “Last Tet, it was very easy to buy a black pig, but it is extremely difficult this year. Even if you made a reservation, it is hard to buy a 40-50 kg black pig. This pork is the best for making pork lean and sausages or in hotpot. Unfortunately, it is increasingly hard to buy now.”

Le Ngoc from Hanoi also traveled hundreds of kilometers to Lung Khau Nhin commune in Muong Khuong district, Lao Cai province to order two black pigs for her company’s year-end festival. Ngoc had to ask a relative in Lao Cai to take her to every pig farm in the village to choose a pig at about 120,000-130,000 VND/kg. This year’s price is much higher than last year, but she still decided to choose 2 pigs with the weight of 50kg, or there will be no pig left to buy.

Tran Van Binh, a pig farm owner in Coc Sam village, Phong Nien commune, Bao Thang district said, when the African swine fever happened several months ago, he immediately planned to isolate the pigsties and sprayed disinfectants once a week. When the most difficult time went by, he laughed as saying “any farmer who can keep pigs can make fortune because the price of pigs has skyrocketed to a record level". 

Over the last two weeks, Mr. Binh has been very busy receiving phone calls from customers ordering pork, sometimes he has to turn off the phone because of overload. With the current high selling price of pigs, Binh’s more than 100 pigs can earn him about 700-800 million VND.

Black pigs are "hunted" for Tet dishes (Photo: Vietnam+)

According to Tran Van Tien, Vice Chairman of People's Committee of Ban Xen commune, Muong Khuong district, Lao Cai province, the locality had a large number of black pigs. However, the African pig fever epidemic reduced the total number of Ban Xen pigs. There are only 1,000 animals left, of which 600 - 700 pigs for supplying the Tet market. Almost the pigs had been ordered by traders. Although the price of pigs is high, it does not discourage consumers from "hunting" black pigs for Tet. At this time, all relationships are being fully utilized to find excellent black pigs for families and the neighborhood despite high prices.

Now comes the last days of the Year of the Pig, pig farmers in Muong Khuong, Simacai are leisurely welcoming the New Year because their pigs have been sold out. Hanoians also leisurely wait for the longest holidays in the year to knock on the door. However, there are many families in the capital city still going to the Northwest region, just to earn a little luck to buy a good black pig to treat friends and family, and find a forest peach branch for Tet decoration./.