The prices of vegetables and live seafood at many markets has doubled or tripled in the immediate period following the lunar new year holiday.
Supermarkets unable to restock vegetables
Some supermarkets have already opened and have stable prices but their vegetables are far and few. Employees at Hanoi's Fivimart said they were unable to restock lettuce or coriander.
Meanwhile, lettuce at Kim Lien Market is being sold for VND100,000 (USD4.70) a kilo compared to VND30,000 normally. Tomatoes now cost VND60,000 per kilo while the price before Tet was VND40,000.
At Thanh Cong A Market, prices for live seafood also increased. A kilo of carp increased from VND40,000 to VND130,000.
According to the traders, the severe cold before Tet reduced supply. "There were already signs of price increases since before Tet. It's really difficult to find stocks, and for some transport costs have increased, despite falling petrol prices, this means prices must go up," Hue, a trader at Thanh Cong A Market said.
