A Co.opmart supermarket outlet at the Thu Duc intersection in HCMC was packed Thursday evening.
Its staff said for the past week the supermarket has been busy with people shopping for the Lunar New Year, especially during evenings and weekends.
The nine-day Tet holiday begins Saturday.
The aisles were packed with shopping carts, some occupied also by children their parents had brought along.
The supermarket has been offering promotions including discounts, "buy one get one free" deals and combo packs with free gifts.
The candy, snack and bulk nuts sections were the most crowded. Many snacks and candies were priced at VND150,000-200,000 (US$6-8) per kilogram.
By 8 p.m., the peak shopping hour, over 20 checkout counters at the supermarket were operating at full capacity. Customers had to wait 15-20 minutes in line to pay. To handle the surging crowds, 10 additional employees manned the counters.
"I have bought VND4 million worth of candy, processed foods and jams, but I need more,” My Dung said, adding that she planned to shop more in the next few days.
Ngoc Anh picked up discounted boxes of cookies as gifts for relatives.
“I’m shopping early so I have time to clean the house ahead of the festival."
Dried sunflower and pumpkin seeds, cashew nuts and dried fruits were also in high demand, and their prices ranged from VND120,000 to VND180,000 per kilogram.
Decorative fruits like pomelos and watermelons were beautifully shaped and uniform in size.
"The prices of pomelos are higher than at local markets, but the quality is better, and the appearance is perfect for placing on the ancestors’ altar," Thanh Ha (in glasses), a shopper, said.
Hundreds of orders being processed at the delivery area. Nguyen Huu Nhi, a delivery worker, said his team is working up to midnight daily as the holiday nears.
The team has been expanded from 15 to 22 members.
In Hanoi, a shopping mall near Thang Long Avenue saw a surge in visitors by 8 p.m. Its 50 checkout counters were packed, with long lines of customers waiting to pay.
The aisles are consistently crowded, and store managers estimate that visitor numbers in recent days have been 30% higher than last year, and they expect a further increase this weekend.
Some children fell asleep on the floor or in shopping carts while waiting as their parents queued up.