At the Tet (Lunar New Year) 2026 markets, northern green bananas are in such high demand that their prices have skyrocketed. In some cases, a bunch with just one extra banana costs three to four times more, jumping from VND550,000 to over VND1 million (approximately US$23-41) per bunch.

On the morning of the 26th day of the lunar month, green bananas filled both traditional and online markets, as the fruit is a must-have in the five-fruit tray for ancestral worship during Tet.

Prices of green bananas have risen steeply compared to normal days. Odd-numbered bunches, believed to bring good fortune, are particularly prized, selling for up to four times the price of even-numbered ones.

After buying a perfect bunch of 29 green bananas for VND1 million at a local market in Dinh Cong, Hanoi, Dao Thi Lien shared her experience: “I had to check with six vendors before finding a bunch with 29 bananas. The others only had bunches with 28.”

According to her, a 28-banana bunch costs less than VND350,000, while one with 29 bananas jumps to VND1 million. “It’s just one extra banana, but the difference is huge,” she said, noting that the bunch she bought was large, evenly shaped, with bright green skin and no scratches.

At Dai Tu Market, banana vendor Vu Ngoc Ngan confirmed that odd-numbered bunches usually cost two to four times more. “The price also depends on the appearance of the bunch. A perfect odd-numbered bunch with large, unblemished bananas can easily sell for over VND1 million,” she said.

At her stall, even-numbered bunches range from VND100,000 to 250,000 each, nearly double the usual price. Odd-numbered bunches with 15, 17, or 19 bananas sell for VND300,000-400,000; those with 25 bananas cost around VND550,000; 27-bananas bunches go for VND600,000; and 29-bananas ones reach VND700,000. All her bananas are locally grown in the North, not imported from southern provinces.

“The number of bananas matters, but so does the look. Families buy them for altar offerings, so they want odd numbers and beautiful, spotless fruit to wish for luck and smooth sailing in the new year,” Ngan explained.

In contrast, southern green bananas sold online are priced by weight rather than by the number of bananas.

At her shop in Tu Liem District, Hanoi, trader Bui Thi Linh was busy packing Tet orders. “Our premium southern bananas cost VND55,000 per kilogram (about US$2.25),” she said. “A bunch weighs around three kilograms, so one costs about VND165,000.”

Southern bananas are grown for export to Japan, China, and Europe, with evenly sized, flawless fruit. Customers who buy whole boxes of three to four bunches (9-10 kilograms) pay only VND400,000 per box-roughly the same price as one odd-numbered northern bunch.

Thanks to the more affordable pricing, Linh’s sales have surged. Between the 25th and 27th days of the lunar month, she shipped around 300 boxes, and by midday on the 26th, she expected to stop taking orders with only 40 boxes left in stock.

Some online sellers offer bulk discounts as low as VND35,000 per kilogram for full boxes, but most stop taking orders by the 27th day of the lunar calendar.

Despite the high prices, northern green bananas remain one of the most sought-after items at Tet markets, as people continue to believe that a beautiful, odd-numbered bunch on the family altar will bring good fortune and prosperity for the year ahead.

Tam An