On the 10th day of the Lunar New Year, vendors selling grilled snakehead fish along Tan Ky Tan Quy Street in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City, experienced a rush of customers.

The demand for this dish, a traditional offering to the God of Wealth, caused shops to sell out early, with vendors working tirelessly to keep up.

Smoke-filled streets as vendors work through the night

From early morning, the streets were bustling as customers lined up to purchase grilled fish for their wealth and prosperity rituals. Vendors set up dozens of grills along the sidewalks, with smoke rising as they continuously cooked large batches of fish.

Nguyen Trung, a seasoned vendor, prepared nearly two tons of fish (around 1,500 fish) for the event. Despite a lower stock than the previous year, he still required a workforce of 40 helpers, including family members who traveled to Ho Chi Minh City to assist.

“I've been doing this for years, and every God of Wealth Day, the demand is incredible. We started pre-grilling the fish in advance, then reheat them when customers arrive," Trung shared.

Grilled snakehead fish is an essential offering on God of Wealth Day, as many believe it brings good luck and financial success for the year ahead. Households and businesses alike purchase multiple fish, reinforcing the cultural significance of this dish.

Phan Thi Mai Hoa, who traveled from Long An Province, came to help her brother-in-law’s business. “This dish is served with fresh herbs, vermicelli, and rice paper, making it a complete and symbolic meal,” she explained while helping sort the fish.

Each 1-2 kg fish is cleaned and skewered with sugarcane before being grilled. Prices range from $8 to $9 per fish, depending on size. Vendors reheat the fish before packaging, adding scallion oil and wrapping them in aluminum foil to retain heat.

Customers line up before work to secure their offerings

At 7 a.m., buyers began arriving to secure their fish before heading to work.

Ngoc Mai, a resident of District 11, carefully selected her fish. “Every year, I buy grilled fish for God of Wealth Day. Prices are higher during this time, but I prefer to pick fresh, high-quality fish for good luck,” she said.

Others, like Quoc Thinh, purchased multiple fish. "I bought five fish - some for my family, some for my workplace," he shared.

Due to the overwhelming demand, latecomers had to wait 10-15 minutes for vendors to reheat the fish before purchasing.

This annual tradition has not only become a cultural staple but also provides a significant boost to local businesses. With thousands of fish sold every year, vendors and their families look forward to the event as one of their most profitable days.

As the God of Wealth Day celebration continues, many Ho Chi Minh City residents believe that these carefully prepared offerings will bring fortune and success in the year ahead.

Dao Phuong