Mid-Autumn Festival Mooncakes Soar in Price: Navigate the 20% Hike in this Popular Traditional Treat

Mooncakes, a beloved traditional treat during the mid-autumn festival, have seen a noticeable rise in price this year. The increase, ranging from 3 to 20 percent, is attributed to heightened costs for ingredients, labor, and packaging. As a result, consumers have found themselves paying more for the festive delicacies.

The Price of Tradition

Hoa, a resident of HCMC’s Gia Dinh Ward, was taken aback when she discovered that a pack of four mooncakes, which she purchased last year for VND700,000, is now priced between VND830,000-850,000 in many stores. Shockingly, some vendors even charge up to VND1 million for the same box.

Locally-made mooncakes from small bakeries and shops are equally affected. Consumers can expect to pay 7-8% more for cakes with traditional fillings such as red bean, taro, and lotus seed paste. For mooncakes with mixed fillings, the price hike reaches 10%.

Tran Tien Dung, proprietor of a long-standing mooncake bakery in HCMC’s Cau Kieu Ward, admitted to increasing his prices by 15% in response to a 30-40% surge in the cost of ingredients and labor.

However, it appears larger manufacturers have taken a more conservative approach. KIDO, for instance, has only implemented a 3-5% price increase for some mooncake varieties, leaving the rest of its offerings at their original price.

Online Shopping and Consumer Caution

As the festival approaches, selling mooncakes online has become a widespread practice. Online offerings often include non-traditional fillings, such as tiramisu or molten salted egg. These mooncakes, often marketed as homemade, can be found at half or even a quarter of the price set by physical stores.

However, the HCMC Department of Food Safety has advised consumers to be cautious when buying online. They stress the importance of purchasing from sellers who clearly state their production facilities and ingredient sources.