Hanoi supermarkets, stores packed as people go Tet shopping

At 8 p.m. Friday, long lines of customers were queuing up in one of the largest supermarkets in Hanoi. All 50 check-out counters were running at full capacity on the first day of the 9-day (Feb 2-10) Tet holiday.

The supermarket will open from 7 a.m. till 11 p.m. this weekend to meet the high demand. Candied fruits, seeds and cookies were among the popular items.

Ngoc Anh, a resident of Thanh Xuan District, said that she had to try to buy some goods and take to her hometown despite there being many customers.

Supermarket staff had no rest as they kept restocking the shelves.

Janitors were also kept busy cleaning up trash.

Fresh fruits and vegetables also attracted a large number of buyers. Some customers said that the supermarket hadn't increased the prices of these items, like vendors in traditional markets do for Tet.

Fruit shelves ran out of imported grapes and apples pretty quick.

Chicken, an important part of Tet cuisine, was also a hot selling item.

As late as 10 p.m. the supermarket was full of customers. Each customer had to wait 20-30 minutes to be checked out.

Some customers decided to eat as they waited to pay after filling their shopping carts.

Trolleys became beds for some children who’d had to wait for too long.

Several customers who couldn’t wait just left their trolleys in the way, and supermarket staff had to sort out the items and return them to the right places.

Fashion stores on Cau Giay and Chua Boc streets were also packed with a large number of customers drawn by Tet discounts. People left their motorbikes on the streets as the sidewalks had no space left.

Aeon Mall in Hanoi has announced that it would open throughout the Tet holiday. Convenience store Circle K will also serve customers 24/7 without any day off. 

Other supermarkets will also remain open this weekend. 

Most retailers and supermarkets have reported a 30-40 percent year-on-year increase in Tet business.