The race to deliver goods during Tet (Lunar New Year)

With only a week left until Tet (Lunar New Year), the demand for goods delivery has skyrocketed, and some places have announced a temporary suspension of long-distance orders.

Post offices are struggling to cope with the volume of goods needing to be transported before Tet (Lunar New Year) - Photo: CONG TRUNG

According to Tuoi Tre newspaper in Ho Chi Minh City, from post offices and supermarkets to large and small businesses, everyone is racing against time to complete orders before the holiday. Senders need to plan carefully if they need their goods delivered before Tet (Lunar New Year).

Shippers are busy "running" during Tet (Lunar New Year).

The bustling work atmosphere is easily noticeable in delivery companies like Viettel Post, Giao Hang Nhanh, Best Express, or in large supermarkets like Co.opMart, Emart, and Go.

At the Viettel Post office on Chu Van An Street (Binh Thanh District), goods are piled high in the aisles, and shippers are constantly checking orders and making deliveries non-stop.

Hoang, an experienced delivery driver, shared that some days he delivers nearly 100 orders. He feels both tired and happy seeing customers receive their goods, all excitedly preparing for Tet (Lunar New Year).

Not only post offices, but also large supermarkets like Co.opMart, Emart, and Go are experiencing a surge in demand for home delivery services.

Nguyen Nhu, a delivery driver at Go supermarket, said that many customers buy goods and then order home delivery. "Orders within a 5km radius, especially in the Go Vap area, are countless.

"Customers mainly buy confectionery, food, and drinks for Tet. On weekends, the number of orders skyrockets, and we can't keep up with the deliveries," said Mr. Nhu. The workload for shippers at this time has increased 4-5 times compared to normal days.

"Headache" with shipping goods before Tet

Under pressure from orders, many shipping companies have been forced to announce a temporary suspension of long-distance orders to ensure timely delivery.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Luan, director of Global Trade Linkage Co., Ltd., said that many delivery drivers are currently taking time off to return to their hometowns for Tet (Lunar New Year), causing delivery companies to face staff shortages and requiring them to readjust their schedules accordingly.

According to him, the issue of missed deliveries or order overload only strongly affects small online shops or small businesses because they do not have long-term contracts with shipping companies, while it has almost no impact on large businesses.

In addition to labor shortages, many businesses are also facing traffic congestion and rising transportation costs.

A leader of Phuc Sinh Company - which specializes in providing Tet gifts such as tea and coffee - said that freight costs have increased by 30%, and the factory is operating at full capacity but still cannot meet delivery deadlines.

The shipping market is extremely busy ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. Nguyen CLLLong, a post office manager at J&T Express in Ho Chi Minh City, said that the number of orders during Tet increases two to three times compared to normal days. This year, his post office recorded an increase of about 20% in orders compared to the same period last year.

Furthermore, this is also the time when many customers return to their hometowns, leading to situations where orders are placed but there is no one to receive them. This is especially true for businesses, factories, garment workshops, and processing plants, where workers often return home early for Tet (Lunar New Year), further complicating the delivery process.

In this situation, the shipper and post office must actively communicate to assist with delivery, and at the same time, work with the store to agree on a course of action for unsuccessful deliveries.

According to a representative of J&T Express Vietnam, the number of orders increases significantly as the Lunar New Year approaches, and the staff has to work at 200% capacity to keep up with the influx of orders.

According to businesses, in addition to time pressure and workload, they also face a shortage of seasonal workers for packing and shipping goods.

Most shipping companies such as Shopee Express, Giao Hang Tiet Kiem, and Giao Hang Nhanh have announced a holiday schedule from January 27, 2025 (28th day of the 12th lunar month) to February 1, 2025 (4th day of Tet).

Meanwhile, Grab Express continues to operate, but delivery times may be slower due to a reduced number of drivers. Shopee Express advises customers to place and pay for orders before January 25th to ensure delivery before Tet (Lunar New Year).

Similarly, Giao Hang Tiet Kiem (Economical Delivery) only accepts orders within Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City before 12 PM on January 26th and stops accepting inter-regional orders from January 23rd.

Warning about delivery scams.

Towards the end of the year, delivery-related scams tend to increase. Viettel Post warns of several common tactics such as: individuals impersonating delivery staff and requesting customers to pay in advance via bank transfer; sending packages of unknown origin and forcing customers to pay without inspection; or impersonating relatives or friends, using illegally collected personal information to request payments through unusual methods.

To spot scams, be wary of packages without order information, delivery personnel not wearing uniforms or not presenting identification, and urgent requests for cash payment without allowing inspection of the goods.

Viettel Post recommends that customers always carefully check order information, compare it with the completed transaction, request delivery staff to present their employee ID and company uniform, and refuse payment or acceptance of goods if they have any doubts about the origin of the package.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chay-dua-giao-hang-dip-tet-20250120084845396.htm