Vu Lan festival which falls on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month is an occasion for Vietnamese people to express their gratitude toward their ancestors. The festival used to be a busy time for votive paper market. However, the market slumps this year as many people oppose the burning of votive offerings as a waste of money (Photo: VNA)

Many people burn votive paper money and other objects each month after they complete the rituals for their ancestors on the first day and 15th day of each lunar month (Photo:VNA)

Burning votive offerings is meant to send items to the dead for use in the afterlife. During the ritual, people also commemorate their ancestors and express their gratitude (Photo:VNA)

Today, many people burn votive paper as a way of demonstrating their wealth. They burn giant paper houses, cars, motorbikes, TV sets, and even paper servants and concubines which cost millions of dong each. And many people oppose this practice as a waste of money that they say raises the risk of fires and explosions and must be banned (Photo:VNA)

(Photo:VNA)

Today, many people burn votive paper as a way of demonstrating their wealth. They burn giant paper houses, cars, motorbikes, TV sets, and even paper servants and concubines which cost millions of dong each. And many people oppose this practice as a waste of money that they say raises the risk of fires and explosions and must be banned (Photo:VNA)

All daily necessaries (Photo: VNA)

A votive paper shop owner reveals that this year’s market is gloomy compared to previous years (Photo:VNA)

Market slumps this year as many people oppose the practice of burning votive offerings as a waste of money that they say raises the risk of fires and explosions and must be banned (Photo: VNA)

(Photo:VNA)

(Photo:VNA)