HCM CITY — Valentine’s Day is a time for people to show their love to their special one. It is also an occasion for businesses to roll out unique gift items.

Traditionally, chocolate has been the popular choice of gift for couples on February 14.

D’Art Chocolate is offering dozens of different Valentine packages ranging from VNĐ150,000 to VNĐ1 million (US$7-47) per box of four to 73 pieces of chocolate. Chocolate decorated with love-themed paintings are sold at VNĐ50,000 – 165,000 ($2-7) depending on size.

The company also provides materials for people who love to make their own chocolate. Trần Thùy Linh, 25, a government official who works in District 1, said she wanted to buy raw chocolate and make chocolate using her own design. “I learned chocolate making on the internet and am trying to make it these days. I believe my gift will surprise my lover.” 

Fresh flowers are also among the top gifts on the occasion. Trần Hồng Minh Nhật, PR manager of Dalat Hasfarm, said his company has imported 20-30 per cent more flowers this year to meet the high demand. They are imported from Ecuador, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Japan.

The company also offers a large variety of locally grown flowers like red roses, tulips and hydrangeas. “More than 2,000 tulips, 3,000 pots of rose and 1,500 pots of hydrangea have been supplied to the market for this year’s Valentine’s Day,” said Nhật.

Dalat Hasfarm has introduced new flower bunch designs based on love themes like Love You Forever, First Love, and Beloved Wife at VNĐ200,000 –1.5 million ($9-67). It is offering discounts of 10-30 per cent on all products.

Famous gift shops in HCM City such as Hana and Chip Chip are this year offering new kinds of souvenirs for couples like cups, clothes and accessories printed with their photos. Their prices from VNĐ100,000 to VNĐ300,000 ($4-12).

Most supermarkets in the city have launched discounts and bonus gift programmes. Saigon Co.op for instance is offering discounts of up to 50 per cent on clothes and cosmetics until February 14. Lotte Mart has launched a promotion called Thương Là Tặng (Gift for Love) from February 8 to 21 with discounts of 30-50 on stuffed items, chocolates, clothes, and cosmetics.

For many young people, particularly students, Valentine’s Day is not only a time for love and gifts, but also an opportunity to earn money.

Nguyễn Thanh Phương, a senior student at the HCM City University of Pedagogy, said “As usual my friends and I are planning to sell flowers on Valentine’s Day to earn some money.” After visiting the city’s biggest flower wholesale market on Hồ Thị Kỷ Street, District 10, she said prices have risen by 30-35 per cent in recent days. “I hope the prices will remain steady so that our business will make more profits.”

The students plan to sell the flowers in front of their university starting on February 13.

Like Phương, many other young people will gather to selling flowers in front of the city’s biggest universities and cultural houses on Đinh Tiên Hoàng and Phạm Ngọc Thạch Streets in District 1 and An Dương Vương and Nguyễn Văn Cừ Streets in District 5.

“All of us are hoping for good business this year,” Phương said. — VNS