Ho Chi Minh City residents tighten their purse strings, eat less at fancy restaurants to save up for Tet shopping

Some shops in Ho Chi Minh City also said that the number of customers has decreased somewhat in the last months of the year. However, the shop owners still hope that the situation will change in the coming days.

"Back then, I didn't have to think twice about eating a bowl of noodles for 130,000 VND, but now..."

One day in the middle of the week, Mr. Tran Vy (30 years old, living in Binh Chanh District) and his friends went to a duck noodle shop on Nguyen Trai Street (QT, HCMC) to enjoy. The customer said that this dish is his favorite and this has been his "favorite restaurant" for many years.

Many people say that due to economic difficulties, in order to have some savings at the end of the year to comfortably celebrate Tet, they prioritize affordable restaurants.

Normally, he would visit the restaurant 2-3 times a week, mainly with friends and colleagues. He would also order the basic duck noodle soup, which costs between 130,000 VND and 140,000 VND at the restaurant. However, for many months now, Mr. Vy said that he only visits the restaurant 2-3 times a month at most.

Originally a salesman, he said that business this year has not been very favorable, just like some other professions when the economy is facing difficulties. That is the reason why he no longer spends freely like before, nor does he visit large, luxurious restaurants and eateries.

Office workers work overtime at night, save money and wait for their Tet bonus.

“Before, I could eat a bowl of noodles for 130,000 VND and go to a big restaurant without having to think about anything. Now I have to recalculate, especially with Tet approaching like this. At the end of the year, I work as a salesperson and have to try to make ends meet, but the situation is not optimistic. If I don’t know how to save, I will be sad when I come home for Tet this year,” said Mr. Vy.

Instead of choosing "fancy" restaurants, Mr. Vy said he makes a habit of cooking at home or choosing affordable rice, noodle, and pho restaurants with prices ranging from 30,000 - 40,000 VND, which is more suitable.

The cheap eateries on Bui Minh Truc Street (District 8) are packed with customers every night.

The owner of this noodle shop also confided that this year, business and trade are not the same as previous years, with surprisingly few customers. However, because it is an essential food business, and the shop is also a famous delicious restaurant, it is not too bad, because according to the owner, many other shops are having a much harder time, some have even had to close.

“At the end of the year, customers also limit their spending. Previously, the restaurant's special noodle dish was popular with many customers, but now people often order cheaper, more popular dishes. However, many people who can afford it still eat as usual,” the restaurant representative added.

"Buy a portion of duck offal for 50,000 VND, enough for 3 meals"

That is how Ms. Hoai Thu (26 years old), living in an apartment on Ta Quang Buu Street (District 8) saves for the end of 2023. Ms. Thu said that she works as an office worker, has a stable income so she is not too worried about food.

Normally, she would order food through delivery apps, or on weekends she would go to the supermarket near her house to buy vegetables and fruits, buy food to cook for herself as a way to relieve stress.

"Frugal Tet" is the spirit of many people celebrating Tet this year.

“But in the last 2 months of the year, I set a goal to save enough money to celebrate Tet. During the week, I will spend 2 days tightening my spending by not buying food and snacks, and going to the traditional market near my house. The market is cheaper, sometimes I buy a portion of duck hotpot, ask for more broth, buy more vegetables to make hotpot, divide it into 3 meals," she said with a smile.

At a noodle shop on Highway 50 (through District 8, Ho Chi Minh City), Ms. N. (56 years old) bought a portion of noodles for 52,000 VND. Ms. N. said that in the previous months, she and her husband had a habit of looking online, seeing a delicious restaurant, and inviting each other to try it out.

However, at the moment, the couple is also "cutting back", limiting eating out to save money for Tet. "My husband and I sell groceries, I don't know why this year there are few customers, not like every year. My children also had their salaries reduced, my children said this year the Tet bonus will not be like every year. In general, this year for my family is a frugal Tet, not too grand but cozy, reunion is enough," she said.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/nguoi-dan-tphcm-that-chat-hau-bao-bot-an-quan-sang-chanh-de-danh-sam-tet-185231229104657664.htm