The surge came on the evening of February 10 which was the 23rd day of the final lunar month, when shopping centres and supermarkets saw thousands of customers arriving after work. Entrances and aisles, particularly in confectionery and food sections, were crowded throughout the evening.
At a supermarket on Cong Quynh Street in Ben Thanh Ward, the confectionery and bulk nuts counter became a hotspot by 7 pm. Many sweets and biscuits were priced at VND 150,000-200,000 per kilogramme (about USD 5.88-7.84), while staff repeatedly restocked shelves to keep up with demand.
Supermarket staff continuously restocked shelves to meet the surging demand from shoppers.
Other departments, including fresh food, household goods and fashion, also reported brisk sales, driven by seasonal promotions.
At another branch on Hanoi Highway in Tang Nhon Phu Ward, all 20 checkout counters were in constant use by 8 pm, with customers waiting 10 to 15 minutes to pay.
Items commonly bought as gifts, such as Tet hampers, speciality products, premium confectionery, beer and soft drinks, recorded strong growth.
Mai, a resident of Binh Quoi Ward, said she had tried to shop early but was caught off guard by the crowds. “I had to note down my shopping list on my phone to avoid forgetting anything,” she said.
A supermarket employee said customer traffic was up about 30 per cent compared with normal days, especially after 10 am. Stores have introduced discounts, buy-one-get-one-free offers and combo deals with gifts to attract shoppers.
Delivery areas were also overwhelmed. Nguyen Huu Nhi, a staff coordinator, said one supermarket opened its dispatch section earlier than usual, from 10 am instead of 2 pm, and increased staffing from 15 to 22 people. Additional tricycles and lorries were deployed to speed up deliveries.
Even after 9 pm, supermarkets in Go Vap remained crowded, with long checkout lines and busy gift-wrapping counters.
“My husband is waiting in the checkout queue while I had to take our child outside because the crowd was too dense,” one shopper, Mong Tuyen, said.
The Tet gift-wrapping area was equally bustling, with customers queuing for their turn.
Many customers were still waiting outside supermarkets after 10 pm for transport to take their purchases home, ending a hectic evening of last-minute Tet shopping.
