While many restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City still remain closed after Tet, many vegetarian restaurants opened from early morning. The vegetarian food restaurants in Phan Xich Long in Phu Nhuan District; Nguyen Van Dau and No Trang Long streets in Binh Thanh District and Nguyen Kiem Street in Go Vap District have been working at full-capacity.

Restaurant owner Mrs Loc who sells vegetarian food near Quan Am Pagoda in District 12 said her sales had increased 3-4 fold, with numbers bolstered by pagoda goers.

Bowls of rice and instant noodles are VND5,000-7,000 (USD0.23-0.33) higher than pre-Tet due to higher costs of input food and added labour costs.

Supermarkets also lure customers searching for a vegetarian option, with stalls at Phap Hoa Supermarket, located within the campus of Pho Quang Pagoda in Tan Binh District seeing large numbers of customers.

According to food traders, vegetarian food sales peak just after Tet as people look for lower fat options in contrast Chung cake, pork pies and meat.

Vegetarian cafes are currently attracting many customers

Vegetarian food