On the first day of the Tet holiday, numerous retail outlets across Hanoi remained open, offering attractive promotions to meet consumer demand, according to the Municipal Department of Industry and Trade.

 Local consumers shop at Go! supermarket. Photos: Hoai Nam/The Hanoi Times

Some convenience store chains, such as Circle K, Family Mart, B’s Mart, 7 Eleven, and GS25, along with large distributors like AEON, Go!, and Big C, continued operations to cater to shoppers on the first day of the Tet holiday [January 29].

Prices for items in these supermarkets have remained stable compared to pre-Tet levels.

Japan’s AEON Mall operates from 11 AM to 10 PM on the first day of Tet and will resume normal hours from the second to the fifth day of the holiday, said Dam Manh Tuan, General Manager of AEON Vietnam’s Northern Region. He noted a 15-20% increase in shopping demand compared to the same period last year. Products like dry foods have surged by 20%, while Tet gift baskets have seen a 15% rise.

Similarly, Co.opmart and Co.opXtra close only on the first day of Tet, reopening on the second day from 8 AM to 10 PM. “This approach is part of their strategy to ensure a steady supply of goods throughout the holiday, providing customers with more choices,” Nguyen Thi Kim Dung, Director of Co.op Mart Ha Dong supermarket, emphasized.

Representatives from Big C and Go! announced similar operating hours to ensure uninterrupted supply chains, making it easier for people to shop during the new year celebrations. In contrast, WinMart and WinMart+ will open from the fourth day of Tet, featuring enticing promotions with discounts of up to 50%, running until February 12.

The continuous operation of supermarkets during Tet has positively impacted the market, alleviating pressure on traditional markets.

Tran Thi Phuong Lan, Vice Chair of the Vietnam Retailers Association, highlighted that the availability of supermarkets prevented consumers from stockpiling goods, helping to keep prices stable in local markets without sudden spikes.

On the second day of Tet, more supermarkets are expected to reopen, and vendors at major markets will also begin selling primarily vegetables and fruits, as predicted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.