The 2022 Tet (Lunar New Year) festival is approaching. This is the peak season for selling Tet goods, so shopping activities has become animated. We have just had the opportunity to walk around the markets to serve the needs of workers in industrial parks (IPs). Despite being heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s shopping atmosphere for Tet is also quite busy.
Vibrant at night
At 19 pm, most markets are crowded with workers. When the lights of streets shine everywhere, shopping activities start to take place and usually fade away at 9:30 pm. For many workers, they often go to the market in the early evening or on Sunday. Viet Sing market in Thuan An city’s An Phu ward is famous as a "paradise" for shopping of workers, mainly working in VSIP I at night…
Viet Sing night market in the Viet Sing residential area gets more exciting on the days near Tet
At the market, shops and stalls are brilliant under the electric lights, with all kinds of items from fashion, cosmetics to home appliances... A large number of workers flock to this night market, causing parking staff at shops to be busy for guiding and driving customers continuously. Fashion shops have absorbed the most customers. Bui Lan Anh, manager of a children's fashion store said: "Compared to every year, the number of my customers has not changed, but there is only reduction in the value and quantity of goods. Every year, when a customer buys goods with a total value of about VND 1 million. This year, the figure drops to only VND 500,000 - VND600,000”.
At Thong Dung market in Thuan An city’s An Phu ward, shoppers are mainly workers in the An Phu production zone. Customers focus on buying shoes, backpacks, bags... Nguyen Ha Xuyen, who has been selling backpacks and bags for 10 years at Thong Tung market, confided: “Every year, workers often buy backpacks to go home for Tet, so goods are sold like not cakes. At that time, I sold goods until 12 pm. This year, the market is empty at 21 p.m. Purchasing power has decreased, so this year I have imported less goods. Moreover, there are still a lot of inventories."
According to the management boards of markets near industrial parks in the province, in general, compared to the previous years, purchasing power as well as the number of sales establishments at the markets has decreased significantly. Previously, Viet Lap market in Di An city’s An Binh ward was home to more than 100 small traders selling fashion items such as clothes and shoes. However, this year, the number of small traders is less than 40. Nguyen Thi Lien, a small trader selling shoes at the market said: "The number of workers returning to their hometown during the last Covid-19 pandemic was quite large, so this year the number of shoppers is less than the previous years. In the evening, the market has begun to be bustling, but many people have only finished watching goods."
Possibly seeing, the shopping atmosphere at markets for workers on the days near Tet is gradually getting more exciting. Although the purchasing power is not as exciting as previous years, in comparison with the time of closure or "reserved" activities because of the pandemic, this is a thriving sign for the next Tet holidays.
Workers saving money, small traders sympathizing
Le Thi Hong, a worker from the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang was passionately choosing children's clothes, fidgeting with pretty dresses. After a while of lifting and putting down, she chose a pink dress and a set of clothes. With an excited face, she hesitantly confided: "Due to difficulties, I and my husband had to send our children to the countryside to ask my mother to take care of them. This Tet, we try to save money to visit our children and only dare buy things that are really necessary...".
Whilst, Nguyen Ngoc Thoa, from the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang, carefully selected a few boxes of cakes and coffee to bring back to her hometown this Tet. She said: “My father has passed away, now only my mother and younger brother remain in the countryside. My house is very far from the market, so I buy some necessaries and bring them home on Tet." Some workers said that although there is no shortage of cakes in their hometown, gifts from afar are precious.
In general, workers in IPs are hesitant and deliberate to shop for Tet. Understanding the psychology, many small traders here sell cheap items suitable to workers ‘financial ability. With only VND 35,000 - 50,000, workers can buy a shirt or a pair of sandals. They can also get a dress or set of clothes with more than VND100,000.
Bui Thi Hong, selling groceries at Khanh Binh market in Tan Uyen town said: “Every year, my shop is full of Tet items. This year, I did not take expensive items such as canned cakes, almonds, pumpkin seeds… for fear of not being able to sell them. I have only imported normal confectionery, beer and soft drinks. At this time, most workers focus on buying clothes. For confectionery products, they will absorb many customers from January 25”. Also according to Le Thi Huong, a small trader at Dat Cuoc market in North Tan Uyen district’s Dat Cuoc commune, this year, she has imported less goods than usual. On the days Near Tet, the prices of goods at the wholesale markets have increased, but the prices of goods at her stall remain unchanged…, aiming to share difficulties with workers.
In 2021, the complicated developments of the pandemic made the lives of workers difficult, so they are tightened their belts when shopping for Tet. Many workers said that they only buy things that are really necessary. And markets near IPs are very ideal because of their abundance of goods and low prices. In general, although this year's economy is not as expected, workers still try to prepare for a cozy Tet. For workers living away from home, they are still eagerly looking forward to the approach of Tet and directing their affection to their hometowns.
Reported by Tien Hanh-Translated by Kim Tin
