At many supermarket systems such as Coop Mart, Satra, Go, MM Maga Market… right after opening, customers are already waiting outside and rushing in to shop. Various types of fruits are displayed on fruit trays, such as pomelo, papaya, Buddhist hand fruit… that fill the shelves.
Each fruit is labeled with red paper for Lunar New Year, making it more eye-catching. The prices are quite cheap, such as watermelon priced at 25,000 VND/kg, sugar apples at 42,500 VND/kg, papaya at 28,200 VND/kg… “The fruits at the supermarket are all Grade 1, very fresh and delicious, so every year I come here to buy them to decorate for Tet. The prices are currently the same as on normal days” – a female customer said.
Staff members continuously restock the shelves.
Bánh chưng and bánh tét – indispensable items for each family during Tet – are priced very well, starting from 113,000 VND/piece (1 kg). These products are made by prestigious businesses.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Duc – General Director of Saigon Co.op – stated that it is the peak period for Tet shopping and purchasing power has increased by 20% compared to normal days. Currently, the supermarket chain has extended its operating hours from 6 am to 10 pm to meet the Tet shopping needs of the people.
Pre-cooked Tet food is in high demand, such as pickled quail eggs, pickled vegetables, various types of sweet soup…
Traditional markets are also bustling with customers. Tet products are plentiful, with various stalls selling candies, dried fruits, and dried food… Most items have stable prices, such as cashews at 250,000 VND/kg, pickled melon seeds at 200,000 VND/kg, pumpkin seeds at 150,000 VND/kg; dried squid at 280,000 VND/kg, sun-dried beef jerky at 560,000 VND/kg…
Watermelons carved with calligraphy, gold bar-shaped melons with prices up to a million VND are also being sold at the market awaiting potential buyers.
“Purchasing power is gradually increasing. Although it’s not as high as a few years ago, in this difficult economic period, having customers like this is already a good thing. I hope the economy will stabilize more this year, and customers will shop more” – Ms. Hoa (a processed food trader) expressed her expectation.
Tet goods are also booming at wholesale markets. Mr. Nguyen Binh Phuong – Director of Business at Thu Duc wholesale agricultural produce market – said that the supply of Tet goods is sufficient to meet the needs of consumers. Specifically, from the 25th day of the last lunar month, about 3,000 tons of goods are delivered to the market (an increase of about 20%); on the 26th day, about 3,500 tons are delivered, and on the peak days of the 27th and 28th, about 4,500 tons of goods are delivered to the market, an increase of about 80% compared to normal days…
According to the preliminary report on the socio-economic situation in January 2024, all indicators of Ho Chi Minh City have grown compared to December 2023. The purchasing power of the market in the days leading up to Tet is increasing again, which is an encouraging sign.
