Beyond fresh flowers, Ho Chi Minh City residents are flocking to buy “fortune cakes” such as prosperity cakes, tai loc cakes, dai phat cakes and Than Tai buns to present as offerings on the 10th day of the first lunar month - the annual God of Wealth Day.

Bustling trade in “fortune cakes”

In the days leading up to God of Wealth Day, the traditional Chinese cake market at the intersection of Phung Hung and Nguyen Trai streets in Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh City, is filled with a constant stream of visitors. Stalls burst with bright colors and carefully arranged displays, drawing crowds eager to choose their offerings.

Here, traditional cakes such as banh to, prosperity cakes, Tho Dao peach buns, dai phat cakes and Than Tai buns are favored by many in the Chinese community as ritual offerings, sent with prayers for a year of smooth business and abundant wealth.

Truong, 53, who owns a cake shop on Phung Hung Street, shared that his family has sold traditional cakes along this road for three generations. In the past, mostly Chinese customers bought these cakes for Tet and God of Wealth Day rituals. Over time, cultural exchange has seen more Vietnamese families purchasing dai phat cakes, prosperity cakes and Than Tai buns for the 10th day of the first lunar month.

Depending on size, the cakes are priced from several tens of thousands of dong to VND400,000 per piece (approximately US$16).

According to Truong, aside from Tet, these cakes also sell exceptionally well on God of Wealth Day.

Duc, 27, is a regular customer at the market. Each year, as the occasion approaches, he stops by to buy banh to and prosperity cakes to bring home for offerings.

Choosing larger sized cakes and buying in quantity, Duc asked stall staff to carefully pack them into boxes and secure them to the back of his motorbike for the ride home.

In addition to cakes, traders display a variety of feng shui items, including five bean jars for the God of Wealth altar, gold jars, garlic towers, cake towers and decorative wooden towers.

Most of these items are designed in eye catching shades of gold. On the outside are printed or pasted auspicious phrases such as “brisk sales,” “may all wishes be fulfilled,” “congratulations and prosperity,” and “money flowing like water.”

A wide range of ritual goods

At Cho Thiec market in Binh Thoi Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, the atmosphere is equally lively. Vendors hang paper money, gold ingots, incense and lamps overhead for customers to easily select their offerings.

One trader noted that customers typically purchase paper offerings for a range of rituals, from the Kitchen Gods ceremony to year end worship, Lunar New Year’s Eve, God of Wealth Day and grand openings.

However, for God of Wealth Day, many families still return to buy additional items. Over time, manufacturers have introduced new designs for paper gold, ingots, incense and lamps, making them more diverse and visually appealing.

Fresh flower stalls serving the occasion are also set up in abundance to meet demand.

Gerbera daisies are the most widely available, priced at VND15,000 - VND20,000 per stem (US$0.60 - US$0.80) and VND70,000 - VND100,000 per bouquet (US$2.80 - US$4).

A flower vendor said gerberas are especially popular on God of Wealth Day because they symbolize luck and prosperity.

Many believe that placing gerberas on the God of Wealth altar will help the household achieve flourishing business, abundant fortune and good luck throughout the year.

Besides gerberas, shoppers also look for lucky bamboo to display and offer at the altar. Vendors sell the plants individually or in carefully arranged pots, with prices ranging from VND20,000 per stalk (US$0.80) to more than VND200,000 per pot (US$8).

In Eastern folk belief, the God of Wealth is the deity who governs money and property, worshiped by many households, especially those engaged in trade and business. In 2026, the 10th day of the first lunar month - God of Wealth Day - falls on Thursday, February 26.

Folk tradition holds that this is the day the God of Wealth returns to heaven. As such, many families prepare ritual offerings in hopes of inviting prosperity, luck and favorable business throughout the year.

Ha Nguyen