A rental car business in Hà Nội's Hà Đông District. — VNA/VNS Photo Văn Xuyên

HÀ NỘI — The demand for cars during the seven days of Tết (Lunar New Year) in Hà Nội is on the rise despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Đỗ Toàn, an owner of a car rental showroom in Xuân Đỉnh Ward said he had received deposits for almost 20 cars. As they were from regular customers and booked a month ago, the price is only 10 to 15 per cent higher than normal.

Toàn said the rental prices for five-seat cars such as Hyundai Grand i10, Kia Morning, Toyota Vios, Nissan Sunny and Mazda3 increased from VNĐ500,000-800,000 to VNĐ650,000 to VNĐ1.2 million a day.

The rental prices for seven-seat cars such as Toyota Innova, Mitsubishi Xpander, Suzuki Ertiga, Huyndai Santa Fe and Toyota Fortuner increased from VNĐ800,000-VNĐ1 million to VNĐ900,000-VNĐ1.4 million a day.

Since the Tết holiday is approaching and there is a scarcity of cars, the rental price has increased by nearly three times.

Showroom owners want to rent cars for seven or 10 days with preferential prices, as they want to have more time for their employees to enjoy the holiday.

On the car rental market this year, in addition to professional rental facilities, there are many individuals and organisations that rent out their cars during the festive season.

Phan Minh Thành in Gia Lam District said that during the holidays, he will travel to many places and return home in Quỳnh Lưu, Nghệ An Province. The price is triple on weekdays.

He was offered a Kia Morning for 7 days for only VNĐ5 million, averaging over VNĐ700,000 a day. He said this is a good price for Tết as the supply does not meet demand, while on normal days this rental would cost from VNĐ500,000 to VNĐ600,000 a day.

However, with the development of the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of local infections is high as people return home. Although he can rent a car, he does not know whether he can meet his family.

According to experts, although the annual sales of new cars have been around 400,000 in recent years, many people do not have their own car. Large families with children often choose rental services. However, renters should pay attention to avoid unnecessary risks in the car rental process, including the vehicle's documents.

They should also inspect the exterior and interior for scratches and damage. They can take pictures of any damage to avoid having to reimburse the owner. — VNS