CHƯA CÓ TẾT NÀO NHƯ TẾT NÀY: SỨC MUA CHẠM ĐÁY, CHỢ HOA ĐÌU HIU VẮNG NGƯỜI

Every year as the end of the year approaches people in Hanoi grow accustomed to walking through the old quarter step by step to get everything ready for Tết But the crowd in 2026 was strange—no longer the feeling of weaving through a dense throng of people The streets are no longer obscured by stalls and old vehicles But before we could even enjoy the lighter traffic we realized it was only because fewer people were coming around after buying In past years by the 23rd day of the lunar month people had to carefully inch their way through the incense stalls just to pick out lucky charms and decorative paintings This year according to reporter from Channel 14 the once-bustling Dong Duc Street now carries an unusually quiet demeanor The implementation of the model urban order and civility initiative has brought about a noticeable transformation in the historic district's appearance However the essence of the street market's charm lies not merely in the reorganized pavement or sidewalk layout but also reveals a noticeable lack of restraint clearly evident in people's shopping habits during the Lunar New Year market visits Amid the vibrant red hues of lanterns lucky money envelopes and traditional paper crafts Photos of young people wearing áo dài for check-in shots are nearly nonexistent Instead curious foreign tourists stopped in front of each stall And those from Hanoi who stop by do so with a relaxed attitude mainly to admire the season rather than rush through it Stepping into the bustling market stalls during the days leading up to the 2026 Lunar New Year many people are struck first by a sense of unfamiliarity What’s unusual isn’t the goods since red and gold still blanket the stalls as every year but rather the space itself Starting late November 2025 when authorities simultaneously intensified efforts to restore order along sidewalks The street's appearance changed day by day with makeshift awnings and stalls spilling onto the sidewalk The once-familiar chaotic image has now been streamlined and reorganized A leisurely stroll from the Hàng Lược flower market stretching into the Hàng Mã and Hàng Rươi markets Shoppers no longer have to weave through motorbikes or dodge hanging merchandise while walking Soft barriers were installed to delineate the pedestrian area from the commercial zone Motorbikes are still allowed to move but traffic is slower and more orderly For those who appreciate neatness and cleanliness this is a welcome change International tourists can linger longer at each handicraft stall without feeling pushed or jostled Although the space had become more spacious and orderly the atmosphere of commerce had noticeably quieted down By long-standing habit this has always been the peak period when vendors are practically too busy to spare a moment This year in many stalls there are even more sellers than actual buyers Customers came by picked up an item put it down quietly and left without a word Their careful approach to spending was evident in every small choice they made Elaborate expensive decorations are rarely in demand Most buyers focus only on essential items for the Kitchen God festival or simple decorative objects lightly referred to For many native residents of Hanoi the intersection of Hang Luoc and Hang Ma streets always evokes the strongest sense of nostalgia This was once a space filled with stalls selling secondhand and antique goods He sells all kinds of items from bronze incense burners and stoneware bowls to old coins and vintage clocks Amidst the crowd at the flower market items tinged by the passage of time create a distinctive unique touch This year affected by sidewalk reorganization and broader market challenges Antique stalls are now appearing only sporadically No more are there lively haggling sessions or groups of people gathering to debate the value of each item as before Now even getting customers to haggle is a challenge It's not just in Hanoi the pre-Tet shopping scene in Ho Chi Minh City also shows many similarities Only a few days remain until Lunar New Year Yet at many traditional markets such as Tan Dinh Ba Trieu and Xom Moi the majority of customers are still individuals purchasing daily groceries for their household meals Many shops open early in the morning yet the atmosphere remains quite quiet Ms Hoa a clothing vendor at Xóm Mới Market in An Hoi Dong Ward Sales volume has dropped by about 20% compared to the same period last year She said that every year around Lunar New Year she’d work until late but this year she hadn’t even closed the stall yet because there were no customers In the fresh food category conditions remain no better Ms Nguyen Thi Sau a pork vendor at Tan Dinh Market said Guest numbers dropped significantly compared to the same period last year She explained that rising input costs have made buyers more cautious Customers are asking a lot of questions and carefully inspecting before buying while orders for sausage deliveries are slow mainly because people are waiting until close to Lunar New Year According to traders egg demand once again clearly reflects cautious spending habits amid the fact that many families' incomes have yet to recover significantly Instead of shopping early people tend to concentrate their purchases in the days leading up to Lunar New Year causing the market to lose its usual early momentum compared to previous years In this context modern retail systems leverage their stable supply advantages and competitive pricing to launch multiple stimulus programs Goal's supermarket chain has rolled out a nationwide program offering fresh pork at no profit From January 29 to February 12 applicable to various high-demand goods during the Lunar New Year period According to Ms Nguyen Thi Bich Van Director of Communications at Central Retail Vietnam Group Pork supply toward year-end is showing signs of scarcity due to natural disasters causing traditional pricing trends to rise She explained that the supermarket's decision to sell at no profit aims to help stabilize the market and assist people in accessing essential food at reasonable prices during the Lunar New Year Mega Market has also launched several attractive promotions on fresh and frozen pork Imported goods with widespread reductions ranging from 15.0% to 30.0% to encourage early purchasing Other retailers have chosen to invest in the shopping experience to retain customers Mina Gourmet Market has created a flower path right within the grounds of Maynard Mall while simultaneously combining deep product discounts of up to 80% Thanks to stimulus programs consumer demand at modern retail channels has begun showing signs of improvement In Ho Chi Minh City systems such as Saigon Cop and Gau reported increased customer traffic during lunch and afternoon hours although the market has not yet reached its peak a representative from Setro Retail said consumer demand has improved in recent weeks when consumers focus more on items that are on sale A staff member at a Saigon Co op supermarket in Cau O Lanh Ward said categories such as ready-to-eat foods candies traditional jam barley smoothies and soft drinks All recorded strong growth compared to the previous month Another supermarket chain in Ho Chi Minh City sales data for essential food items and processed goods Increased by 10% to 15% compared to last week The confectionery group rose by about 20% driven by numerous products discounted between 20% and 30% Nevertheless the increase remained localized and did not produce a significant breakthrough for the overall market This trend is similarly observed in Hanoi Gold Greenmart and CoMart systems reported increased evening traffic while daytime hours remained relatively underutilized At dry goods stalls buyers focus mainly on candies nuts and traditional holiday sausage gifts with many products discounted by 20% to 40% Ritchie confectionery's representative noted that consumers are being more cautious this year in choosing Tết products Retail items and small hardware are priced reasonably According to the Ho Chi Minh City Food Association rising input material costs are placing significant pressure on businesses Nevertheless most companies still accept lower profit margins to maintain their prices and market share If any adjustment occurs the increase would only be a few percentage points Retailers forecast a significant surge in demand during the Lunar New Year peak week When the demand for food storage and gift-giving reaches its peak WinCommerce representatives said consumer spending this Lunar New Year is trending toward the final days before the holiday break The system had secured supplies in advance increasing inventory levels by about 25% compared to normal days and forecast total system demand will increase by 20% to 25% compared to the same period last year I hope these projected figures become a reality Behind the empty stalls of incense and combs and the quiet market stalls scattered across Ho Chi Minh City It is the livelihood of tens of thousands of small traders and workers A stronger shopping season in the final days of the year not only helps revive the market and also brought many families a Lunar New Year with lighter burdens and fewer worries after a year filled with hardships