Tet demand keeps retail hubs in Hanoi busy late at night
As demand rose, shoppers became more selective, favoring quality products at reasonable prices with clear origins, while stable supply, extended hours and price controls kept Hanoi’s retail markets busy late into the night without unusual fluctuations ahead of Tet.
THE HANOI TIMES — As Tet holiday began on February 14, many young families chose February 13 and 14 to complete purchases before leaving Hanoi for their hometowns, making shopping centers and supermarkets busier than ever in the final hours before departure.
Supermarkets in Hanoi are busy in days leading up to Tet. Photo: Lam Giang/Hanoimoi
At around 9 PM on February 13, the 26th day of the last lunar month, the entrance on Lac Long Quan Street at Lotte West Lake was still bustling. Parking areas for motorbikes and cars were full.
Inside the mall, fashion stores such as Uniqlo, Zara, Gap, Muji, Pull&Bear, Puma, Nike, Footlocker and Pedro were packed. At Uniqlo, fitting rooms remained occupied while dozens of customers lined up at both staffed counters and self-checkout machines close to 10 PM.
Staff said footfall on the evening of February 13 rose sharply compared to previous days.
Nguyen Minh Ha, a resident of Tay Ho Ward, said he had just finished work that afternoon and brought his family to shop for Tet, adding that shopping in malls offers multiple brands, convenient parking and saves time.
Beyond fashion, cosmetics and jewelry counters drew strong demand ahead of Valentine's Day. Similar scenes were recorded at GO! Thang Long, Aeon Mall Long Bien, Aeon Mall Ha Dong and WinMart supermarkets.
At GO! Thang Long on the afternoon of February 13, confectionery nuts and candied fruit areas were the most crowded. More than 40 checkout counters were frequently operated at full capacity, with some families waiting up to 30 minutes.
Duong Mai Anh, a resident in Cau Giay Ward preparing for her first Tet as a daughter-in-law, said she chose supermarkets for clear product origins, listed prices and promotional offers. She wanted to prepare carefully for her husband's family.
Meanwhile, Huyen Trang from Giang Vo Ward went shopping early in the morning to avoid peak hours. Mornings were busy but manageable, with shelves fully restocked and prices clearly displayed, she said.
On February 14, the 27th day of the lunar month, customers continued to rise, especially in the afternoon and evening, though no widespread overload was reported.
At Aeon, WinMart, GO!, Lotte Mart and Coopmart, fresh food, dried goods, confectionery and beverages remained in constant demand. Products for Tet feast trays, such as meat, seafood, vegetables, traditional sausages and frozen food saw strong sales growth.
An employee at AEON Mall Hadong said pre-Tet purchasing power increased by 15%-20% year on year, driven mainly by fresh food and fast-moving consumer goods.
Prices of essentials, including rice, cooking oil, sugar, instant noodles, eggs and frozen meat, were largely stable, with many items offered under price stabilization programs or discounted by 20% to 40%.
Nguyen Thi Hau from Bo De Ward said her family prioritized dried food and essentials at supermarkets for quality assurance. A single round of shopping was enough to cover nearly three days of Tet meals and prices were more stable than at some traditional markets.
Cloth shops are the favorite places of many yougng people.
To serve the growing demand, retailers prepared early for the surge and extended operating hours.
WinMart reported Tet supplies rose about 25% compared to normal days, with rice up 20%. The system also launched three food safety testing laboratories across the north central and south regions to strengthen quality control before products reach shelves.
Meanwhile, AEON increased reserves of essential goods and worked closely with suppliers to secure supplies while promoting ready-to-cook and frozen food. Its food courts introduced Tet meal sets for busy families.
In the same move, Central Retail said it finalized supply volumes with partners four to five months in advance and boosted stocks of fresh food, confectionery and beverages.
During the peak period, GO! opened from 7 AM to 11 PM, serving customers until noon on the 29th day of the lunar month, closing on the first day of Tet and reopening from the second day.
WinMart operated until noon on the 29th day and resumed from the 4th day of the new year. AEON remained open throughout Tet, with opening hours from 11 AM on the first day of the lunar year.
While demand continued to climb, consumers showed greater selectivity, prioritizing quality, reasonable prices and clear origins.
Stable supply, extended hours and price control measures kept Hanoi retail markets lively late into the night without unusual fluctuations, meeting the capital's last-minute Tet shopping demand.
