Inside the US Tet market for Vietnamese

By Phuong Phuong   February 4, 2021 | 11:36 pm PT
With the Tet holiday getting close, many traditional products are on sale in the biggest Vietnamese market in the U.S. state of Georgia.
Inside the US Tet market for Vietnamese

A week before Lunar New Year, Hong Kong Supermarket in Atlanta City is decorated with big yellow mai flowers.

This is the largest Asian market in Georgia, providing essentials from many parts of the world, especially Vietnam, to serve the shopping needs of the Vietnamese community in America.

Inside the US Tet market for Vietnamese

Inside, many stalls supply traditional Tet products like confectionary baskets, candied fruits, lanterns, and red calligraphy papers.

Inside the US Tet market for Vietnamese

Faux peach blossoms, yellow mai flowers and many other Tet home decorations are sold right at the entrance of the market.

Inside the US Tet market for Vietnamese

Fresh flowers, especially yellow daisies, are popular among Vietnamese celebrating Tet this year. Each bouquet costs about $6.

Inside the US Tet market for Vietnamese

Confectionery and candied fruit stalls attract many shoppers.

Inside the US Tet market for Vietnamese

Dried goods are some of the most essential elements of a traditional Vietnamese Tet. These products are mainly shipped from big cities in California or imported from Vietnam.

Inside the US Tet market for Vietnamese

Visitors to the market can also purchase traditional food like savory sticky rice cakes (banh chung) and cylindric glutinous rice cakes (banh tet).

Inside the US Tet market for Vietnamese

A shelf selling votive papers to burn during New Year's Eve.

Inside the US Tet market for Vietnamese

Customers choose to buy red sheets of paper for good luck.

Inside the US Tet market for Vietnamese

Nguyen Thi Kim Chuc's family drove from Clarksville, Tennessee at 6 a.m. to visit the market and buy items for Tet.

"This will be the first year I have Tet here due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so I want to buy all the necessities to worship my ancestors, just like in Vietnam," said Chuc.

Inside the US Tet market for Vietnamese

Due to the pandemic, the number of shoppers in the market is less than previous years.

Inside the US Tet market for Vietnamese

Many families from other neighboring states also drove for hours to Georgia to shop for the holiday.

 
 
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