Hang Be Market busy on Nguyen Tieu festival

Hang Be Market in Gia Ngu street (Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi) is said to be a market for rich families since goods here are more pricey than other places. However, with the high-quality and the diversity of goods from raw ingredients to cooked dishes, Hang Be is still the top option for many families in Hanoi. Just 5 minute walk from Hoan Kiem lake, Hang Be Market is located in the heart of Hanoi Old Quarter. The market has existed for hundreds of years. From a few temporary kiosks placed on Hang Be Street and on the sidewalk, the market was gradually enlarged to Gia Ngu – Cho Cau Go intersection until Hang Dao street and became an indispensable part of Hanoian’s daily life. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Since very early in the morning of the 15th day in the first lunar month – which is the First Full Moon or Nguyen Tieu festival in Vietnam -, Hang Be Market has been crowded with people buying offerings for the occasion. For a majority of Vietnamese families, the first full-moon of the year is the first major event after Tet, the Lunar New Year Festival. People once again worship their ancestors at home and Buddha at pagodas to pray for good luck in the new year. Although the Nguyen Tieu Festival originates from China, when it was introduced to Vietnam, the First Full Moon festival has adopted the particular cultural aspect of Vietnam and plays a significant role in Vietnamese's cultural and religious life. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Hang Be Market is famous for boiled chicken with roses on their beaks, which is among the popular offerings of most rituals in northern Vietnam. Many Hanoians flock to the market to buy one such chicken for their trays of food offered to ancestors on the Nguyen Tieu festival. After the Lunar New Year period, Vietnamese people celebrate Tet Nguyen Tieu, or first full moon of the year, which is held on 15th day of the first lunar month. It traditionally marks the end of the Lunar New Year period. Although the Nguyen Tieu Festival originates from China, when it was introduced to Vietnam, the First Full Moon festival has adopted the particular cultural aspect of Vietnam and plays a significant role in Vietnamese's cultural and religious life. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A boiled chicken with a rose on its beak weighing from 1.5 kg to 2 kg is priced at 500,000 VND to 600,000 VND (21.3 – 25.6 US dollars). Though the price is higher than in other markets, but the chickens at Hang Be Market still sell very well, with shoppers queuing up to get one. Vietnamese people believe that the first full moon night in the Lunar New Year is the most important full moon of the year. For many people, it marks the return of spring and symbolizes the reunion of family for those who do not manage to celebrate the Lunar New Year Eve with their family. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

An attendant at Hoang Dung shop said the shop has made 500 boiled chickens and several dozens of feasts for Nguyen Tieu festival. The shop hired more than 10 helpers to prepare the chickens since mid-night. Boiled chicken with roses on their beaks are among the popular offerings of most rituals in northern Vietnam. Though the boiled chickens in Hang Be are sold at a higher price than in other markets, but they still sell very well, with shoppers queuing up to get one. According to Hanoian in the Old Quarter, Hang Be Market has been selling “ready-to-eat” dishes since 2010 when it is not very popular in Hanoi. This promoted this selling method to many other markets and supermarkets later. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

At Hang Be Market, which is dubbed a market for rich people, shoppers can buy ready-to-eat dishes for a full feast, from boiled chicken, red steamed sticky rice (made with Gac fruit which has the scientific name of  Momordica cochinchinensis), bamboo shoot soup, fried spring roll, green papaya salad to stir-fried beef with pepper sauce and deep fried breaded fish or shrimp. According to Hanoian in the Old Quarter, Hang Be Market has been selling “ready-to-eat” dishes since 2010 when it is not very popular in Hanoi. This promoted the selling method to many other markets and supermarkets later. From simple to complicated dishes such as spring rolls, tofu with pork, cha ca (fishcake) or even hotpot, the market is the ideal place for those who are busy and still want to enjoy good dishes. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Mai Anh from Long Bien district is a loyal customer at Hang Be Market. She has been buying offerings and ready-to-eat dishes at the market for more than five years. According to her, the food at Hang Be Market, though more pricey, is good and deserves the prices. Just 5 minute walk from Hoan Kiem lake, Hang Be Market is located in the heart of the Old Quarter in Hanoi. The market has existed for hundreds of years. One of the most famous markets in Hanoi, it sells everything you need to make a delicious Vietnamese dish. There are food stalls open till midnight. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Not only shops selling offerings and ready-to-eat dishes but also fruit stalls are busy serving customers on the day, as fruits are indispensable on the altar for Nguyen Tieu festival. The prices of fruit have picked up by 5,000 to 10,000 VND (0.2 to 0.4 US dollars) per kilo. Imported apples are sold at around 160,000 VND per kilo. A hand of banana fetches from 50,000 to 100,000 VND depending on its size. In northern localities like Thanh Hoa or Hanoi, Tet Nguyen Tieu is more to pray to the ancestors: people will be busy shopping for a feast, paper offerings and flowers and fresh fruits to put up on the family's altars. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The prices of fresh flowers to be put up on altars do not increase much. A bunch of ten branches of chrysanthemum sells for 100,000 VND. In northern localities like Thanh Hoa or Hanoi, Tet Nguyen Tieu is more to pray to the ancestors: people will be busy shopping for a feast, paper offerings and flowers and fresh fruits to put up on the family's altars. Although the Nguyen Tieu festival originates from China, when it was introduced to Vietnam, the First Full Moon festival has adopted the particular cultural aspect of Vietnam and plays a significant role in Vietnamese's cultural and religious life. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Besides boiled chicken, roasted pigeon is also a dish selected by many people for the feast to be offered to ancestors on the occasion of Nguyen Tieu festival. At Hang Be Market, which is dubbed a market for rich people, shoppers can buy all dishes for a full feast, from boiled chicken, red steamed sticky rice (made with Gac fruit which has the scientific name of  Momordica cochinchinensis), bamboo shoot soup, fried spring roll, green papaya salad to stir-fried beef with pepper sauce and deep fried breaded fish or shrimp. According to Hanoian in the Old Quarter, Hang Be has been selling “ready-to-eat” dishes since 2010 when it is not very popular in Hanoi. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Five-coloured sticky rice is another popular choice among customers besides the more traditional sticky rice with mung bean. Boiled chicken and steamed sticky rice are the two indispensable dishes of a feast offered to ancestors on major festivals in Vietnam, including Nguyen Tieu festival. For a majority of Vietnamese families, the first full-moon of the year is one of the major festivals. People once again worship their ancestors at home and Buddha at pagodas to pray for good luck in the new year. Although Tet Nguyen Tieu originates from China, when being spread to Vietnam, Tet Nguyen Tieu has adopted the particular cultural aspect of Vietnam and plays a significant role in Vietnamese's cultural and religious life. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

For the pork meatball soup, another dish of the Nguyen Tieu feast, all necessary ingredients are available at Hang Be Market. Customers only need to put them in a pot of broth and boil for a standard bowl of the soup. At Hang Be Market, which is dubbed a market for rich people, shoppers can buy all dishes for a full feast, from boiled chicken, red steamed sticky rice (made with Gac fruit which has the scientific name of  Momordica cochinchinensis), bamboo shoot soup, fried spring roll, green papaya salad to stir-fried beef with pepper sauce and deep fried breaded fish or shrimp. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Hang Be Market remains a favourite place for Hanoians to shop for offerings and ready-to-eat dishes this Nguyen Tieu Festival. For many people, the first full moon night in the Lunar New Year is an important festival of the year, second to just the Lunar New Year. it marks the return of spring and symbolizes the reunion of family for those who do not manage to celebrate the Lunar New Year Eve with their family. Although Tet Nguyen Tieu originates from China, when being spread to Vietnam, Tet Nguyen Tieu has adopted the particular cultural aspect of Vietnam and plays a significant role in Vietnamese's cultural and religious life. (Photo: VietnamPlus)