Yen So Fish Market laden with carps for Kitchen Gods ceremony

Every year, on the occasion of the “Ong Cong - Ong Tao” (Land Genie and Kitchen Gods) ritual, which falls on the 23rd day of the last month of the lunar year, small traders and people rush to Yen So Fish Market in Hoang Mai District, Hanoi, to purchase red carps.

In the early morning of January 25 (the 23rd day of the last month of the lunar year), Yen So Fish Market is crowded with small traders choosing carps for sale to serve the people in worshiping “Ong Cong – Ong Tao”.
In the early morning of January 25 (the 23rd day of the last month of the lunar year), Yen So Fish Market is crowded with small traders choosing carps for sale to serve the people in worshiping “Ong Cong – Ong Tao”.

Red and yellow carp are two types of fish used in the Ong Cong – Ong Tao” ritual.

Small traders choose red carp carefully.

Beautiful carp are carefully and meticulously selected.

Yen So Fish Market is open all day but is most crowded from 3-4am, when small traders from small markets around the city flock to purchase carps and other fish.

Many sellers equip bright lights.

The early market on the 23rd day of the last month of the lunar year is extra special with the thousands of red and yellow carps.

Small traders add more ice to make carp stronger and prevent suffocation.

This year, the price of carp is quite high, ranging from 220,000 to 350,000 VND per kilogramme, due to the small quantity.

Yen So Fish Market is crowded with small traders in the early morning of January 25.

A boy follows his father to the market to buy carps for the “Ong Cong - Ong Tao” ritual.

Many shippers are choosing carps for those who care unable to come to the market due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

An image of the crowded market.

Translated by NDO