This morning, June 14 (the 5^th day of the 5^th lunar month), Da Nang dwellers were busy buying sticky rice wine, fruits, and cakes made of glutinous rice flour dipped in lye for the Mid-year Festival, also known as the Parasite-Killing Festival or ‘Tet Doan Ngo’ in Vietnamese, a meaningful occasion given its intention of preventing pestilence and diseases, evils and illnesses.

There are a wide range of products for sales at the Parasite-Killing Festival. Photo: QUYNH TRANG

The Da Nang market is witnessing the bustling sales of a wide range of products on this festive occasion, and their prices have gone up slightly as compared to normal days.

The price of ‘banh u tro’, which are pyramid-shaped sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves, is set at VND20,000-VND25,000 /package, depending on the weight. Meanwhile, a bunch of chrysanthemum flowers is priced at VND30,000-VND35,000.

Besides, types of fruit such as lychee, Son La plums, mangos and pomelos are still the best-sellers. Currently, the price per kg of lychee in the local market ranges from VND25,000 - VND30,000, whilst that of watermelon from VND7,000 - VND13,000, and plums from VND30,000 - VND50,000.

‘Doan’ means the beginning, and ‘Ngo’ means mid-day, therefore the celebration of Tet Doan Ngo is at the middle of the day when the solar energy is at its maximum.  The herbs harvested at this very moment are thought to be excellent for curing colds, itching or intestinal diseases, and people living in the countryside often go picking herbs together at this time.

On this day, farmers eradicate all pests and start growing their crops for the new season. Creatures and people must become stronger in both their health and their souls. Like other traditional Vietnamese festivals, spiritual rites are among the essential parts of the festival, and in every family, offerings to the spirit world are made to commemorate ancestors.

Reporting by QUYNH TRANG – Translating by A.T