Demand for pet care increases sharply during Lunar New Year or Tet holiday (Photo: Supplied).
Hoai Phong, representative of a pet care company operating in Ho Chi Minh City since 2019, said Tet is consistently the busiest period of the year.
Cats stay in 'luxury' rooms, receiving personalised care (Photo: Supplied).
“Customer numbers increase by around 50 to 100 per cent compared with normal days. On some days we serve 30 to 40 dogs and cats, as many families want their pets clean and well-groomed to welcome the new year,” he said.
Phong's facility is fully booked during Tet (Photo: Supplied).
Demand for pet hotel services also rises significantly as owners travel during the holiday. According to Ha Thi Mong Trinh, owner of a cat hotel in the city, bookings during Tet can climb by 90 to 95 per cent compared with ordinary days.
“At certain times we are almost fully booked and have to turn customers away to ensure quality care,” she said.
Trinh noted that as pets are increasingly regarded as family members, customer expectations have grown. Many owners request private rooms, hygienic spaces, customised diets and regular health monitoring for their animals.
Alongside boarding, grooming packages also see strong year-end growth. Phong said his company’s home-care service is particularly popular, allowing owners to save time while ensuring pets receive professional attention.
Prices vary widely depending on the package. Pet hotel standard rooms typically cost between VND 300,000 and VND 600,000 per day (USD 12-24), while premium rooms or private spaces for multiple pets from the same household can reach several million dong per day.
Despite the relatively high cost, many owners are willing to pay for peace of mind while away during the holiday.
To prepare for the Tet peak, Phong’s company recruits additional staff four to five months in advance for training. Teams work intensive rotating shifts to manage the increased workload while maintaining service standards.
Dog walking services operate throughout Tet
Vo Quang Minh Nhat, founder of a dog walking service in Ho Chi Minh City, said he launched the model in 2022, after the Covid-19 pandemic, when demand for outdoor activity and social interaction for pets rose sharply.
“In the early days, the biggest challenge was customer hesitation because the service was still new. Many people were not comfortable entrusting their pets to strangers,” he said.
Many spend millions of dong for their pets to be walked throughout Tet (Photo: Supplied).
According to Nhat, demand typically increases during Tet as families travel to visit relatives or go on holiday, leaving pets at home for extended periods. Without sufficient activity, animals can become stressed.
Dog walking services help pets exercise, explore outdoor environments and maintain stable behaviour while their owners are away.
In addition to being walked, pets also receive other services such as hotel stays, grooming, and bathing throughout Tet (Photo: Supplied).
Nhat’s company offers 45- to 60-minute walking packages, which can include trips to parks, spa visits or neighbourhood strolls. The most popular option is park exercise sessions, where dogs can run freely and expend energy. Such outings require walkers to have good physical stamina to keep pace with active animals.
Prices range from VND 200,000 to VND 350,000 per 60-minute session (USD 8-14), depending on distance travelled and the dog’s weight.
The company currently employs three full-time staff members and recruits additional part-time collaborators during peak seasons such as Tet to meet rising demand.
