VietNamNet Bridge – The floods have passed but central Vietnam is now facing skyrocketing prices.

The most sought-after commodity is instant noodles. It is a key part of these people's daily diet and with supplies scarce, the cost is nearly unbearable.

* Da Nang: noodles scarce

At the two biggest wholesale markets in Hoa Vang District - the hardest hit in Da Nang - commodities and food prices have jumped to well past normal levels. The price of pork has risen by VND10,000-VND15,000 per kg to VND60,000, while dried fish has doubled in price and rice costs VND7,000 per kg, VND1,200 more than the pre-flood price.

Ha Duy agency, one of the biggest instant noodle suppliers in Mien Dong Market, was out of supplies.

The head of the Trading Management Office of Da Nang City's Commercial Department, Le Van Dieu, said the city's food supply was dwindling because of farmers' and poultry breeders' devastating losses.

Moreover, struggling rural farmers were eating their harvests rather than selling and distribuing them.

He also explained that instant noodle distributors were withholding products in order to further inflate prices.

* Quang Nam: goods dearth

The owner of a foodstall at Vinh Dien Market, Le Thi Tho explained that she was forced to close her doors because the price of food was rising fast. "And I can't raise the price of a meal," she said.

After the flood, most people began saving money to repair their houses and prepared to seek work in the south.

Prices of nearly every Hoi An market commodity have doubled. One woman said she spends VND80,000 ($5) ($3.1) per day to feed her 6-person family, a sharp increase compared to the VND50,000 she was paying before the flood.

Meanwhile, Quang Nam markets have not only seen price increases but are now running out of supplies.

Flooding has also caused power outages across Thang Binh District and people can't buy gasoline. Petroleum stations on National Highway 1A are saying they are "out of gasoline" without any explanation.

Instant noodles also are becoming scarce in Quang Nam Province's flood-hit areas.

As in Da Nang, Quang Nam Province is short on instant noodles and plans to distribute 4,000 tonnes of rice to locals. Immediately after the flood, the province provided 2,700 tonnes of rice to flood-hit areas.

* Quang Ngai: pricey veggies

Although Quang Ngai Province's People's Committee has been directed the commercial sector management of the market post-flood, commodities prices, particularly foodstuffs, are still increasing. At present, vegetables are a scarce commodity.

A woman in Quang Ngai City's Tran Phu Ward said vegetable prices had doubled, and in some cases had tripled. Rice, meat and fish prices are also up as is the cost of construction materials.

(Source: Viet Nam News)