"Vietnamese Specialties for Vietnamese Tet" festival underway in Hanoi

The "Vietnamese Specialities for Vietnamese Tet" festival, currently underway in Hanoi, offers consumers the opportunity to enjoy Tet products through various shopping events and helps residents reconnect with traditional Tet memories and cultural values through regional dishes and specialties across the country.

The festival, which runs through December 11 at all GO!, Big C, and Tops Market supermarkets in Hanoi and many other cities nationwide, gives consumers the opportunity to experience shopping in the traditional Tet spirit through the Candy Festival, Dried Goods Festival, and Vietnamese Agricultural Products Festival.

Specifically, it includes numerous attractive promotions of up to 49% on nearly 100 specialty products from different regions, such as dried buffalo meat, dried pork, dried beef, bamboo shoots (Northwest region); special dry vermicelli, colorful rice noodles, specialty rice and peeled green beans (Hanoi); sweet and sour fish, fried crab and other seafood (Central Vietnam); nine-flavor coconut candy and shrimp crackers (Southern region), and among others.

Jose Mestre, Commercial Director of Fresh Food, Central Retail Vietnam Group (left) speaks at the opening ceremony. Photo: VGP

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Jose Mestre, Commercial Director of Fresh Food Industry of Central Retail Vietnam Group, said: "Thanks to the company's wide presence across Vietnam, we can gather and showcase a variety of the country's local specialties at the festival so that customers can easily experience Vietnam's regional specialties."

"This event goes beyond commerce, as we have carefully invested in the program and closely coordinated with partners to allow consumers to discover Vietnamese specialties. We hope it will foster community ties, connect traditional values, and preserve Vietnamese cultural values during this peak shopping season," said Jose Mestre.

As part of "Vietnamese Specialties for Vietnamese Tet", consumers can also participate in activities steeped in national traditions, such as calligraphy by calligraphers, traditional toy making, fruit tray displays, a banh chung (chung cake) wrapping contest for children.

The Ong Do (calligraphers) booth is a new highlight that contributes to the difference of this year's festival, becoming a cultural space to serve customers.

Many young people like to ask for beautiful calligraphy at the Ong Do stall, which is a good sign that they are interested in the nation's calligraphy tradition. "In the busy shopping area, I can ask for the words I want to take home for decoration, so I can feel the atmosphere of the traditional Tet holiday around me and look forward to a happy new year," Nguyen Nhat An, a student from the Public University in Dong Da District, told The Hanoi Times.

Consumers shop at GO! Thang Long supermarket during the “Vietnamese Specialty Festival for the Vietnamese Tet”. Photos: Anh Kiet/The Hanoi Times

Nguyen Kieu Oanh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, told the Vietnam Government Portal that "Vietnamese Specialties for Vietnamese Tet" is a meaningful initiative that contributes to market diversification and allows consumers to enjoy unique specialties from regions across the country.

"Tet is the most important holiday for Vietnamese people. Tet meals are not just simple meals, but a symbol of family reunions. Choosing specialty products for Tet honors family traditions and promotes the country's image," she added.

"The Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade appreciates Central Retail's efforts to strengthen the consumption of Vietnamese products and hopes that the company will continue to support the connection and promotion of Vietnamese products from various regions both domestically and internationally," Oanh said.

"The event offers a wide range of high-quality products, from fresh fruits to traditional sweets, and helps me save a lot of time as I can just come to GO! Thang Long supermarket in the city to buy most of the things I need and feel assured about the quality and food safety," Nguyen Thi Nhung, a thirty-year-old resident of Dong Da District told The Hanoi Times.

The following photos describe the festive atmosphere in every corner of the "Vietnamese Specialties for Vietnamese Tet" festival.

Hundreds of candies are displayed as beautiful decorations at the festival.

Two part-time students are introducing Zai Zai gummies so that customers know more about the new product.

Jose Mestre, Commercial Director of Fresh Food, Central Retail Vietnam Group (fourth from the left) poses with Vietnamese artists.

Tet gifts are on shelves at GO! Thang Long supermarket in Hanoi.

A stall selling dried beef, a delicious Vietnamese snack.