- Title: SOUTH VIETNAM: CONTINUED FIGHTING CAUSES RISE IN SAIGON FOOD PRICES AS TET NEARS.
- Date: 3rd February 1973
- Summary: 1. GTV Busy Saigon street scene with armed soldier in F/G. (2 shots) 0.10 2. TV People in market 0.14 3. SV Truck laden with food arrives at market 0.22 4. SV People buying food (6 shots) 0.46 5. SV Ducks and chickens being sold (6 shots) 1.15 6. SCU INT Woman eating (3 shots) 1.28 Initials BB/1525 WR/AW/BB/1536 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 18th February 1973 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SAIGON, SOUTH VIETNAM
- Country: Vietnam
- Reuters ID: LVACEOMAIZMPFCODIX0KH6UASBN9
- Story Text: Continued fighting in South Vietnam has caused food prices to rise as Tet, the Lunar New Year, approaches. The South Vietnamese have been indulging in their traditional spending spree on food for this year's celebration...in the year of the Buffalo. But in Saigon they are finding that the piaster--the South Vietnamese currency unit--is not buying as much as before.
Several highways into Saigon, particularly those from the Mekong Delta--have been cut by Communist troops, making it difficult for food trucks to get through.
Beside rice, the main product from the delta region is duck. The canals and paddies are their natural home.
Government officials say there is no shortage of food in Saigon. But what food has got through has been brought in at considerable risk by truck drivers who are seeking higher compensation. Trucks that are successful in making the journey from the Delta have had to pay taxes to both Government and Communist collectors for the privilege of being allowed to pass.
SYNOPSIS: Continued fighting in South Vietnam has caused food prices in Saigon to rise as Tet, the lunar new year, approaches. The South Vietnamese have been indulging in their traditional spending spree, but they are finding it expensive.
Government officials say there is no shortage of food but transport operators are demanding higher compensation for haulage.
Most of Saigon's food comes from the Mekong Delta region. Several highways linking the Delta with the capital have been cut by Communist forces making it difficult for trucks to get through. The cartage operators say they have had to pay taxes to South Vietnamese and Viet Cong collectors for the privilege of being allowed to pass.
Besides rice, the main product from the Delta region is duck. The canals and paddies are their natural home. And it's duck that the South Vietnamese people want to buy to help them celebrate their lunar new year.... But they are finding that the piaster, the South Vietnamese currency unit, is not buying as much food as it did last year.
Previously it has been cheap to eat at Saigon's many Asian street stalls. Now the diets of local diners are being controlled by the rising prices.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
