HCM CITY — People are flocking to streets and shops in HCM City to shop for Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday, and sellers say sales are booming. 

Processed foods, clothes and footwear are the products most in demand since last week.

On busy streets like Hai Bà Trưng, Trần Hưng Đạo, Lê Văn Sỹ, Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, and Nguyễn Trãi, Tết goods are displayed on the street, causing traffic jams, especially after 5pm.

Most businesses said sales have risen since January 17 as most companies have paid salaries and Tết bonuses.

Đặng Quỳnh Đoan, director of Việt Thy Fashion Ltd Co, said the number of customers has increased by 10 – 20 per cent compared to normal days.

“The supply of Tết products is abundant this year. Businesses have only a few days left to sell them.”

At Co.opmart, sales have doubled compared to normal days, mostly of fresh food for making offerings at ancestors’ altars.

Sales of confectionery, marmalades and beverages have also been on the rise, especially last weekend, as customers bought gifts for their relatives and loved ones.

Co.opmart is running promotions on confectionery, drinks and fresh food with discounts of 10-15 per cent. Sales of the products are expected to continue to surge.

Vissan is offering discounts of 5-15 per cent from Jan 5 to 27 on products like sausage, spring rolls, fermented pork rolls, braised fish, and braised pork.

Co.opmart and Co.opXtra said they have mobilised additional workers and increased the number of counters to better serve customers.          

Mango prices surge

Võ Việt Hưng, director of Mỹ Xương Mango Cooperative in Đồng Tháp Province, said this year mango output is down by 90 per cent due to unfavourable weather.

His co-operative has only harvested 10 tonnes for Tết instead of the usual 100 tonnes, he said.

“Most of the co-operative’s mangoes meet VietGAP standards, all of them have a logo and are sold to supermarkets, mostly VinMart.”

Mangoes are among the five fruits essential for offerings for southerners.

Due to the limited supply, the fruit’s prices are continuing to rise, especially with Tết nearing.

Traders find it hard to find mangoes those days.

Cát chu mango in Cao Lãnh is priced at VNĐ40,000 (US$1.7) per kilogramme and Hoà Lộc mango at VNĐ140,000 ($6), double the prices last year, but supply is still not forthcoming.   

Mango prices are expected to keep rising until Tết, which falls on Saturday.

Grapefruit prices have been stable at VNĐ40,000 per kilogramme due to abundant supply, according to Hưng.

Tết is the most important festival in Việt Nam, and is celebrated from New Year’s Eve until at least the third day of the year. — VNS