Retailers seek to stimulate demand during long holiday

Vietnamese have a five-day holiday for the Hung King’s Death Commemoration Day on April 29, Reunification Day on April 30 and Labor Day on May 1 and two days’ compensation since the holidays fall on a weekend.

Gigamall shopping center in HCMC’s Thu Duc City is putting on the “Regional Agricultural Products” event showcasing and offering for sale agricultural specialties.

Open from April 28 to May 2 it features more than 1,000 products from more than 20 provinces that meet Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practice (VietGap) or organic standards.

The mall is also displaying for visitors’ benefit the processes of making products such as silk and medicinal herbs.

“The economy is in a difficult period, not just in Vietnam but globally, and so we want to help farmers and businesses,” Vu Kim Hanh, chairwoman of the Business Association of High Quality Vietnamese Products, which is collaborating with the mall for the event, said.

Phan Xuan Thang, deputy chairman of Po My Cooperative in the northern Ha Giang Province, hoped through the event more products from his province would be consumed in HCMC.

He and his team have brought tea, wine and mushrooms.

Major retailers such as Co.opmart, Central Group, Aeon, WinMart, and Emart have also launched discount programs during the holidays.

Saigon Co.op is offering discounts of 50% and more on fresh foods, beers and soft drinks.

Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo is running its biggest sale of the year, with discounts for UV protection and summer fashion products.

Retailers expect these promotions to increase demand.

Co.opmart believes consumer demand in places outside HCMC, especially tourist cities such as Phan Thiet, Da Nang, Hue, Nha Trang, Bao Loc, Can Tho, and Ca Mau, will be two or three times higher during the holidays than normal days.

WinMart expects an increase of 30%, with more people buying packaged foods, confectionery and soft drinks.