'Confectionery capital' Ho Chi Minh City is crowded with people shopping for Tet

Entering the peak shopping days of Tet, many people come to Binh Tay market (District 6), one of the largest wholesale markets, considered the candy capital of Ho Chi Minh City.

The candy and confectionery area in the market, the stalls are close together, the atmosphere is bustling, buyers and sellers come and go busily.

Fruits and candies sold by weight in a variety of colors are indispensable items to entertain guests during Tet. According to traders at the market, purchasing power in the days leading up to Tet is higher than usual but lower than last year.

This year, the price of jam at market stalls is the same as every year, ranging from 70,000-140,000 VND/kg. Only soursop jam has increased dramatically in price, from 120,000 VND last year to 160,000 VND this year.

A vendor kept saying "out of stock" when asked to buy peanut and sesame candy. Previously, due to the gloomy business situation, she did not import tons of candy like every year, but only imported a few hundred kilos, and when they sold out, she would import more. The woman shared that the number of customers started to increase from December 25, but people spent less money on shopping.

"Every year I shop for Tet at Binh Tay market, from candy, dried goods, food to household items, utensils such as teapots, incense burners, etc. This year the economy is more difficult but Tet shopping still needs to be thorough and complete. Therefore, I will choose items with suitable prices and reduce quantity," said Ms. Thu Dung (District 8).

The days before Tet are busy, everyone goes home with many purchased items.

Similarly, at Ba Chieu market (Binh Thanh district), stalls of dried goods, candy, clothes, and shoes are fully displayed, waiting for customers to come and shop.

The number of shoppers is crowded on all the streets around Ba Chieu market. "This year, the import of goods has decreased by about 30%. Like every year, people buy 5 portions, now they buy 1 portion," said Ms. Lan.

Ms. Thanh (Binh Thanh District) is choosing to buy bamboo strings and dong leaves to wrap banh chung. She started shopping for Tet on the 23rd of December but she spends more economically. "I will buy more of any food that is priced well. I mainly look for ingredients to make my own dishes instead of buying ready-made ones. For household items, I only buy the necessary things like soap, laundry detergent, and vases," Ms. Thanh shared.

Ms. Hong Loan, the owner of a ham stall, said that this year her family personally wrapped Chung cakes to sell to customers. The small cakes cost 130,000 VND each. "Despite economic difficulties, I still try to diversify the quantity and quality of the products to attract customers. Purchasing power has decreased by about 30% compared to last year. I don't stock up on Tet goods, I prepare the goods as customers order," Ms. Loan said.

Along Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street, vendors sell fireworks and Tet decorations. Each firework costs from 30,000 to 150,000 VND and is sold until the second day of Tet. A large number of people come to shop, causing a traffic jam on the afternoon of December 26.