TV, F&B sales during Euro affected by Covid

HCMC and many other cities and provinces have mandated social distancing to curb the spread of the virus, preventing fans from gathering in restaurants and cafes to watch the tournament as they usually do.

Restaurants and cafes have therefore not bothered to buy large TVs.

Minh, who has had to temporarily shut his two restaurants in HCMC’s District 1, said: "This football season would have caused a sales boom if the pandemic had not broken out. We plan to sell snacks via Facebook."

TV manufacturer UBC Vietnam said sales grew by 30 percent in June, but the rate was lower than previous years during the Euro, deputy general director Dao Dang Duy Huan said, adding that demand has weakened due to the Covid outbreak.

Consumer electronics retailers are focusing on selling online, and offering incentives to TV buyers such as buying back their old TVs and offering gifts.

Tran Nguyen Tuan Anh, business manager of Thien Hoa Equipment and Technology Company, a major retailer, said however TV sales have been good during the football season despite the pandemic.

Many buyers prefer TVs 43-55 inches in size costing VND12-20 million ($520.86-868.11), Thien Hoa said.

According to the General Statistics Office, the retail sales of goods and services in May fell by 3.1 percent from April and 1 percent from the same period last year to VND318.2 trillion, and revenues from accommodation, food and beverages fell by 13.4 percent to VND34.3 trillion.