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Saigonese sparing on Christmas
Unlike previous years, the Christmas seems to be coming late this year. And this, for many local residents in the second city, is the manifestation of a year full of difficulties.
People tightening purse strings
The shops in HCM City these days do not look different from ordinary days. Only a few shops have decorated for Christmas and have offered promotion programs. Meanwhile, other shops are remaining indifferent to the season
Pham The Hien street, in district 8 of the city, which attracted thousands of people during past Christmas seasons, now remains unchanged in comparison with regular days.
Thuy, the owner of Memory of Love Shop on Vo Van Tan street in district 3, said that by this time in previous years, her shops were full of customers who came to purchase items to decorate their homes to welcome Christmas. However, Thuy said that she has received only customers from businesses and agencies so far this year, but has not seen individual customers, though the prices are the same as in previous years.
Thuy said that the best sellers now are pine tree, associated decoration items, and small Santa Clauses for children. With just VND 100-500,000, common people can have a happy Christmas season. Meanwhile the big pine trees, snowmen or reindeers priced at VND 1 million or more prove to be unattractive to customers.
Thu, a housewife on Dinh Tien Hoang street in Binh Thanh street, related that in previous years, she always decorated her house with a wish for good things to come. However, she plans to only buy a pine tree this year. Thu said that she still needs to purchase many other things and she does not have much money.
Bustling promotion programs cannot attract customers
Supermarts, mobile phone shops, computer shops, home appliance centers, fashion stores, and confectionary shops all are offering busy promotion programs, which last until the end of the year
Co-op Mart, Big C and Maximark have all announced price reductions of essential products. Fashion shops have announced the discounts of 10-70% to all products.
Christmas proves to be an opportunity for home appliance centers to liquidate their stocks, especially audio and video products. At Thien Hoa Home Appliance Centre, Toshiba 21 inch flat-screen TVs are selling at VND 990,000/set, Sharp refrigerators at VND 3,990,000, Fujiyama karaoke has been reduced by 50% in price, and Nokia 1200 mobile phones are now selling at VND 199,000 instead of VND 990,000.
Kim Toan
vietnamnet
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