People spend a lot of money to have fun during Christmas

Shopping malls, entertainment venues, restaurants, bookstores, and bustling streets welcome customers during the peak Christmas and New Year season.

This year's Christmas decoration market has diverse designs and stable prices - Photo: THANH HIEP

The Christmas season is entering its peak, with a bustling atmosphere filling every corner of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Christmas services such as parties, makeup and entertainment events are operating at full capacity.

The restaurant was fully booked since... half a month ago.

The Christmas 2024 atmosphere in Ho Chi Minh City is becoming bustling with full restaurants and crowded shopping malls. In particular, high-end restaurants have stopped taking reservations since half a month ago, surprising many people and forcing them to change their plans.

A typical example is Ms. Nguyen Thi Diem Huong in Go Vap District, although a regular customer, she could not get a satisfactory table at a restaurant on Ton Duc Thang Street. When she went to another restaurant on Nguyen Hue Street, she only received options after 8:30 p.m.

While high-end restaurants are full, casual dining spots and shopping malls are no less bustling. Areas such as Diamond Plaza, Vincom Plaza Ba Thang Hai or Dong Khoi shopping mall are packed with customers.

Restaurants serving Vietnamese dishes such as pho, conveyor belt hotpot, and grilled meat attract a large number of diners with affordable prices, ranging from a few hundred thousand to more than 1 million VND for a family of 4, or about 250,000 - 300,000 VND/person.

Many people choose shopping malls as their Christmas destination because of their convenience. As Ms. Thanh Huong (District 12) shared, concentrating all entertainment and dining activities in one location helps avoid traffic jams and traveling to many places during crowded holidays.

It can be seen that although the economy is still difficult, people are still willing to spend on entertainment and dining activities during Christmas, the only difference is that there are adjustments in choosing locations and spending levels to suit financial conditions.

Shopping mall attracts customers with events

On the occasion of Christmas 2024, shopping malls and entertainment venues in Ho Chi Minh City are implementing many attractive promotions and events to attract customers. In particular, many units have adjusted their business strategies to suit the current economic situation.

At Van Hanh Mall, Ms. Le Thuy Truc Ngu - marketing director - said the center is implementing a discount program of up to 70% along with many practical incentives. The highlight is the lucky draw program with a 100% winning rate and a series of events lasting 15 days, including a Santa Claus parade on December 21, 22 and 24.

Diamond Plaza and Park Hyatt are also bustling with special entertainment activities on weekends. Notably, the Christmas Ball night with the participation of DJ Victor B and trumpeter Juan on December 24 and 25.

Entertainment venues such as Dam Sen Cultural Park and Suoi Tien Cultural Tourist Area have stepped up special programs. Suoi Tien also combined with the metro line opening event to create a highlight for the festival season.

River tourism services have also recorded strong growth. Les Rives Company plans to increase the frequency to 10 trips/day, serving 150-200 guests, mainly international visitors, with ticket prices ranging from VND2-5 million/person. Saigon Cruise is also providing dinner services on the river with prices ranging from VND500,000-2.5 million/person.

Children's gift market is bustling

Welcoming the 2024 Christmas season, children's toy stores are also busy preparing goods to serve the shopping needs of parents. Many Christmas-themed toys such as musical snowmen, assembled Christmas trees or dolls dressed in Christmas costumes are very popular. In particular, new products such as Baby Tree or Labubu hit trend are also loved and sold a lot during the Christmas season.

Focus on home decoration rather than shopping for clothes

The end of the year is approaching, the need to decorate the house to welcome Christmas or New Year of people is increasing. However, this shopping need does not fall into buying clothes and fashion.

"Tet, Mid-Autumn Festival, Halloween, Christmas... are occasions for families to experience a moment, a milestone of a big festival. Instead of spending a few million VND taking my children to buy clothes, I can spend 4-5 million VND to buy a Christmas tree and materials, decorative accessories for the whole family to start creating the atmosphere, decorating the house. Then take each other out to have fun, eat and drink.

As for shopping for clothes, most families buy them all year round. Because now, wherever you buy, there are many promotions. Not to mention, you can stay home and buy clothes online any day of the week," Ms. Le Thi Huong (Tan Binh District) shared the reason for not going to the fashion street or shopping for clothes for Christmas.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguoi-dan-chiu-chi-vui-mua-giang-sinh-2024122123363173.htm