A customer in Hà Nội selects food with prices fixed using the market stabilisation programme from a supermarket in the city. — Photo nhandan

HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội’s authorities are working with local businesses to make sure shelves don’t run dry during Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.

The demand for essential goods like meat, rice and confectioneries shoots up during the Lunar New Year holidays.

And to make sure there is plenty for everyone, the city is utilising its market stabilisation programme.

To prevent the price surge, the programme will provide an extra 7 to 25 per cent of total food and commodities to meet the growing demand.

Prices will also be fixed to ensure people are not overcharged for certain items that are in short supply.

Hà Nội has allowed 23 units to provide food and goods at a total value of more than VNĐ121 trillion (US$5.2 billion) in the programme

The city will also organise nine local products fairs, 300 mobile selling points and other promotional fairs, 807 safe fruit selling points and allowed 36 Tết fairs in the city to serve the festival.

Authorities have also asked agencies to maintain enough supply of pork, one of the main meats eaten during Tết.

Currently, Hà Nội has 454 wet markets, 110 supermarkets and more than 1,700 convenience stores. Nearly 1,000 of them will open during the holiday which runs from January 23-29. — VNS