Wealthy parents in HCM City are trying to feed their children luxury food to bolster the youngsters for their forthcoming exams.
Ginseng is widely sold in HCM City’s markets
Students are being crammed luxury allegedly beneficial foods such as ginseng, swallow nests and shark fin.
While swallow’s nests cost a minimum of VND35 million (USD1,675) per kilo at shops, some markets in HCM City are charging VND23 million (USD1,010) per kilo.
Shark fin can be bought for VND3.4 million and VND8 million (USD162.75-USD382.95) per kilo at markets depending on the type, around 30% lower than prices at shops.
Prices of abalone range from VND180,000-VND600,000 (USD8.61-USD28.72) per box, depending on their origin.
Six-year-old fresh ginseng is sold at between VND1 million and VND1.85 million (USD47.86-USD88.55) per kilo. Red ginseng is priced from VND870,000-VND1.7 million (USD41.64-USD81.37) per box.
Dam Thi My Linh, owner of a stall in An Dong Market, said, “We’ve found it easier to sell these items recently as increasing numbers of parents are trying to feed their children with nutritional food to prepare for their exams.”
Meanwhile, families with lower incomes have opted to buy more popular food for their children such as pig hearts and brains, goat and cow marrow.
Nguyen Thi Thuy Ngan from Pham Dinh Ho Street in District 6, said she is trying to buy energy bolstering food for her 5th and 12th grade children.
Le Thu Thanh from Le Van Luong Street in District 7 bought goat brain in Tan My Market for her child with a hope that it would help their child prepare for their tests.
However, doctors expressed concerns about the point of origin of many of the products. Doctor Le Thuy Tuoi, a nutritionist, also warned that parents would do better focusing on providing well balanced meals rather than opting for expensive and unproven luxury food items to boost their children’s studies.
