HCM City traffic at a standstill for Tet

Several streets in Ho Chi Minh City are experiencing serious traffic congestion as travel increases with the approach of Tet.

Roads approach their capacity limit

On January 17, at Dien Bien Phu, Phan Dang Luu, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, and Hang Xanh streets were jammed.

The situation is only likely to worsen in next four days, especially along entrance and exit routes of the city, as well around bus stations.

Photos taken from HCM City’s streets on January 17:

Chaotic traffic on Hang Xanh Street on the afternoon of January 17

Every inch of Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street occupied

The entrance of Mien Dong Bus Station

Crowded bus station

Rushing along with luggage

Crowded parking lot

dtinews.vn

Countryside specialties popular gifts for Tet

Many people are seeking to buy countryside specialties as gifts for their families and friends on Tet holiday, in addition to unique fruits of wine-gourds and other items.

Many people are seeking to buy countryside specialties as gifts for Tet

Countryside specialties grow in popularity

Born in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang, Tran Dinh Hoan has lived in Hanoi for nearly 20 years, since enrolling in university. But he still perfers to buy things for Tet from his home town.

“I had my relatives in Cao Bang buy five kilos of roast buffalo in Bao Lac and 10 kilos of mien noodles from a company called Binh Nguyen. These things help me to feel connected with the place I grew up, and keep me from getting homesick. I'm happy to share these things with my friends," he said.

Quach My Uyen Nhan, of Hue City, said she often sends over 50 jars of tom chua, a sauce made from shrimp and chilli, to her daughter, who is studying at a university in Hanoi for Tet.

Hoang Dinh Trong, owner of a communications firm in Hanoi, has his mother send 400 kilos of Dien Bien rice, something that can be found in the northern mountains of Vietnam. He then divided it and sent it to business partners as Tet gifts.

"I had this idea after eating a meal with some of my partners at my house. Many people complimented the dish and one asked me if I could help him get 30 kilos for his family."

Trong added even a lot of well-to-do people prefer simple, countryside products to luxurious foreign ones.

Me xung, known as sesame candy, is a specialty in Hue

Growing market

After seeing a request on an online forum for parents asking for certain countryside specialties for Tet, Uyen Nhi, of Hue City, decided to make a business out of it.

With help from her family, Nhi started to offer products from her hometown via the internet. She started receiving orders within days.

Some people have even set up a website at Quatetvn.com to trade in presents including countryside specialties like salted vegetables, pickled scallions, banh chung, banh day, an other kind of rice cake. Packages of such specialties are offered at VND545,000 (USD25.7). Dozens of people have ordered these gift packages.

dtinews.vn