On January 25 (23rd day of the last lunar month), after performing the ceremony to worship the Kitchen Gods, people take carp to rivers and canals to free them.

At Dieu Phap Pagoda, located by the Saigon River, in Binh Thanh District, from early morning, there were many people coming to free carp.

In addition to carp - the common type of fish offered for the Kitchen Gods, people also release other species of fish, even snails, crabs, turtles.

In order to prevent their fish from being be caught by others, many people pay over VND1 million ($50) to rent boats to row to the middle of the river to free fish.

"In the middle of the river with clean, fast-flowing water, the fish will stay healthy and that’s good for them to transport the Kitchen Gods to heaven," said. Ms. Vuong, who hired such a boat.

People release carps in HCM City: 

Thao Nguyen

Hanoi’s largest fish market on the most special day of the year

Only once a year, Yen So fish market is ‘dyed’ in red by carp.