Efforts to keep prices stable during Tet holiday.

Prices of many fresh produce items and imported goods remain high. From producers to retailers, efforts are being made to increase supply and stabilize prices, especially for Tet (Lunar New Year) goods.

Farmers in the Don Duong vegetable growing area (along the Da Nhim River, Lam Dong province) are urgently cleaning up their gardens to continue farming in time for the Tet holiday - Photo: MV

Packaged goods and processed foods are showing confident signs of stability among many manufacturers and retailers, with stable prices and even numerous promotions for the Tet holiday season. Many businesses report diversifying their supply sources, proactively stockpiling raw materials, and reducing intermediary and logistics costs.

Prices rise, people wait for promotions.

While shopping for fresh produce at a supermarket in Binh Quoi ward (Ho Chi Minh City), Ms. Vo Bich Nga said that the prices of most essential fresh produce items such as chicken, eggs, and vegetables have not cooled down, and the price of eggs has even increased compared to last week.

Specifically, according to Ms. Nga, retail prices are currently at 33,000 - 35,000 VND per dozen chicken eggs and 37,000 - 38,500 VND per dozen duck eggs, 4,000 - 5,000 VND higher than the stable prices of last year. Similarly, the prices of many types of green vegetables sold in supermarkets are still 40 - 50% higher than normal, and even fresh chili peppers now cost up to 14,000 VND per 100 grams...

"Shopping at this time requires careful planning, keeping an eye out for supermarket sales to buy in bulk," Ms. Nga said.

Meanwhile, although a big fan of chicken, Mr. Nguyen Van Vu's family in An Phu Dong ward has recently had to reduce their purchases due to a 30-35% price increase compared to the stable level. Accordingly, retail prices for industrially produced chicken at supermarkets, including thighs, wings, and breasts, range from 105,000 to 125,000 VND/kg...

At many supermarkets and stores, the prices of many imported products such as salmon, high-end seafood, and various fruits have also recorded increases compared to previous months and are up 10-20% compared to the same period last year.

Explaining this, Mr. Vo Thanh Loc, Commercial Director of Farmers Market supermarket, said that besides the exchange rate issue, because most imported fruits from countries such as South Korea, Australia, Chile... are at the end of their season, production has decreased sharply, so the selling price for Tet in Vietnam usually increases by 30-40% compared to normal months.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre newspaper on December 14th, Mr. Truong Chi Thien, General Director of Vinh Thanh Dat Company (Ho Chi Minh City), confirmed that the price of industrial chicken eggs purchased by his company currently ranges from 2,500 to 2,600 VND per egg, depending on the type. This is a sharp increase compared to last year, and even a 40% increase compared to the low prices in previous years.

"Besides meeting domestic demand, due to tensions with Thailand, Cambodia has turned to increasing imports of poultry eggs from Vietnam in recent months, especially chicken eggs. This affects the supply, causing prices to remain high for an extended period," Mr. Thien explained.

High-tech agricultural products grown in greenhouses in Da Lat are still basically ensuring production volume and will account for a larger proportion in the coming period, especially during Tet (Lunar New Year) - Photo: MV

Manufacturers and supermarkets are confident.

As a large-scale producer, a representative from Safoco Foodstuff Joint Stock Company (Ho Chi Minh City) stated that the company has strived to keep the prices of its main product lines such as noodles, pasta, and vermicelli stable from 2022 to the present.

This Lunar New Year season, most products did not increase in price because: "Maintaining prices may reduce the profit per unit sold, but in return, sales volume has increased significantly compared to last year."

Meanwhile, in an interview with Tuoi Tre newspaper on December 14th, Ms. Ly Kim Chi, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Food and Beverage Association, stated that most manufacturing businesses within the association have significantly increased their supply of goods to supermarkets and distributors to serve the year-end season, with stable prices; in fact, many products have not increased in price throughout the year.

"About 40% of businesses in the association have participated in the market stabilization program, so a large quantity of goods will have their prices maintained for Tet (Lunar New Year), and some will even collaborate with supermarkets to apply various promotions for essential products such as rice, milk, and cooking oil... Many units that did not participate in the stabilization program are still aware that limiting price increases at this time is the right thing to do to help stimulate consumer demand and retain customers," Ms. Chi said.

As a leading retailer, in an interview with Tuoi Tre newspaper, a representative from Saigon Co.op affirmed that during the peak period of Tet 2026 preparations, Saigon Co.op prioritizes price stabilization not only in maintaining prices but also in keeping the market pace and increasing the supply of goods amidst fluctuating incomes, cautious spending, and increasingly fierce retail competition.

Specifically, Tet holiday supplies were prepared early, increasing by 35-40% in strategic product groups such as food, VietGAP-certified meat, eggs, and vegetables, processed foods, confectionery, beverages, household goods, chemicals, cosmetics, and Tet gift baskets.

"Thanks to its scale of 800 sales points and distribution centers, Saigon Co.op has increased operational productivity by working directly with 600 suppliers, signing long-term contracts to stabilize raw material sources, reduce intermediaries, and limit price fluctuations for the Tet market. The distribution centers have been upgraded in capacity, allowing for faster goods circulation, thereby significantly reducing logistics costs and contributing to better selling prices," a representative of the company stated.

Meanwhile, a representative from LOTTE Mart stated that they have been working closely with suppliers to stock up, ensuring sufficient supply for the entire system and increasing inventory by 30-50% compared to normal levels.

Many supermarkets report that the processed food and grocery categories for the end of the year are doing very well, while the fresh produce category is more difficult to control, but they have additional solutions such as increasing the supply of frozen meat products, hydroponic vegetables, and imported products...

Take every opportunity to maintain prices.

The director of a food supply company in Ho Chi Minh City believes that the reason processed food prices remain stable at the end of the year is mainly due to businesses and retailers proactively stocking up on raw materials and goods early. In addition, rice prices have been favorable recently (down 35-40% from previous highs).

Conversely, meat, eggs, and vegetables are more volatile, especially vegetables, which have seen a sharp decline in production due to heavy rains and floods in growing regions. Therefore, to stabilize market prices, manufacturing and trading businesses themselves need solutions to diversify raw material sources and reduce intermediary costs.

Ms. Ly Kim Chi believes that stockpiling raw materials and products greatly influences selling prices, but businesses need capital to do so. Therefore, the State and the banking sector should have preferential credit policies for large, reputable businesses that have participated in the price stabilization program for a long time.

Furthermore, with logistics accounting for 20% of production costs, the current logistics sector urgently needs the support of associations and transportation companies to ensure competitive pricing during the peak Tet holiday season.

Mr. Vo Thanh Loc emphasized that imported goods for Tet (Lunar New Year) have almost all been imported, and selling prices are gradually being established. Businesses can proactively come up with solutions. For example, they can prioritize importing the product itself while doing the packaging design domestically to reduce costs.

It might be advisable to prioritize importing smaller sizes, dividing products into smaller quantities, and packaging them in a way that fits the consumer's budget. Additionally, to avoid the impact of exchange rates, domestic businesses could consider placing orders with partners early and agreeing on the exchange rate beforehand.

We have to "calculate every penny".

Mr. Truong Chi Thien affirmed that thanks to proactive planning, the supply of eggs in Ho Chi Minh City's market stabilization program remains stable, and Vinh Thanh Dat Company alone can still supply 1.7 - 2 million eggs per day (2 - 2.5 times the normal daily amount) if needed.

Meanwhile, a representative from VISSAN Company stated that the price of live pigs used to determine the price of meat for price stabilization at the beginning of November 2025 was 56,000 VND/kg, but the company had to purchase them at 59,000 VND/kg.

It is projected that pork prices could reach 60,000 - 65,000 VND/kg between now and the Lunar New Year, putting pressure on retail prices. However, the unit commits to only adjusting prices when input costs increase by 5% or more, and selling at a lower price than products outside the price stabilization program.

"In the context of a challenging economy , VISSAN forecasts that purchasing power during Tet this year may decrease by 5-10% compared to last year. Therefore, we have to 'calculate every penny,' cut unnecessary costs, and request suppliers to have a suitable price increase plan."

Vegetable prices will gradually stabilize.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Huy (Vietponics farm, Da Lat area, specializing in high-tech agricultural production) believes that agricultural product prices will increase during this year's Tet holiday, but the increase will not exceed 30% and will vary between different product groups.

Essential vegetables with high consumption, such as cabbage, lettuce, water spinach, and common spices, are often prioritized by suppliers to participate in price stabilization programs, resulting in less price fluctuation. "The trend of consuming just enough has been popular in recent years, which also means that the Tet market no longer puts significant pressure on the supply region."

"And the increasing contribution of high-tech agricultural products to the agricultural supply structure from Da Lat also helps stabilize the supply from Da Lat, even though there will be many disadvantages due to weather conditions at the end of 2025," Mr. Huy observed.

Various methods are used to anchor and maintain commodity prices.

Mr. Nguyen Van Mien's production facility is ramping up production to supply goods for the year-end season - Photo: T. Huyen

Many small-scale producers are also under pressure and have to find ways to sell their goods at lower prices.

In Ca Mau, Ms. Truong Ngoc Giau, from Tan Tien commune, said that her family's traditional dried shrimp production facility has maintained stable production for many years. During the period leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), the volume of goods usually increases to serve the market, with many new products such as shredded dried shrimp, roasted shrimp, and shrimp patties being pre-ordered by customers.

Ms. Giau said that, anticipating a surge in raw shrimp prices during the Tet holiday season, her facility proactively purchased shrimp about two months in advance. Securing a reliable source of raw materials helps reduce production costs, resulting in lower market prices compared to the general market average.

In addition, the company has adjusted its product structure to suit consumer demand. "This year, the economy is difficult, and high-end items are selling slower, so we've shifted to making more small-sized, lower-priced products to make it easier for consumers to choose," Ms. Giau said.

Currently, Ms. Giau's facility sells an average of about 200kg of various shrimp products each month, with dried shrimp priced between 1.5 and 1.8 million VND/kg. During holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), production can increase to nearly 500kg.

Many small businesses and production facilities say they are struggling to maintain prices. Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, the owner of a dried fish warehouse in Tran De commune (Can Tho city), said that input materials such as pepper, sugar, garlic, chili, shrimp, and various types of fish have all increased compared to before.

"According to the rules, when input costs increase, output should increase as well. But with weak purchasing power, I have to keep prices low to retain customers and provide jobs for nearly 20 workers. Many items only yield very little profit, or even break even. Doing this for a long time is quite tiring," Mr. Hung said.

According to Mr. Hung, the demand for dried fish and dried shrimp usually increases during Tet (Lunar New Year) compared to normal days. However, surveys show that consumers this year are not spending as freely as before. Therefore, businesses are hesitant to stockpile large quantities of raw materials to avoid the risk of "tying up capital".

Mr. Nguyen Van Mien, from the Dam Doi Crab Cooperative, said that his facility's dried whole-shell tiger prawns utilize fresh, locally sourced raw materials and local labor, allowing for a "buy-at-source, sell-at-the-end" approach without intermediaries, resulting in affordable prices for a wide range of customers. Mr. Mien predicts that this year's consumer demand will favor more "affordable" products, so he is boosting production of these prawn products.

Amidst weak purchasing power and rising input costs, proactively securing raw materials and adjusting products to suit consumer budgets is the approach many businesses are choosing to understand the market and help maintain price stability in the final days of the year.

Consumers are worried about price increases.

Ms. Son Thi Ut, a resident of My Phuoc commune (Can Tho City) and a worker at a seafood processing factory, said that the prices of many essential consumer goods have been continuously increasing recently. While she didn't work much overtime last year, her average income was only about 8 million VND per month. Raising only one young child in 5th grade and always being frugal, she still ends up broke every month with no money left over.

"Many small items like toothbrushes and hand sanitizers have different prices each time we buy them, but they're all increasing. Some items have increased by 5,000 dong in just three months; it doesn't seem like much, but it adds up to over 20%. A little bit at a time, and in the end, our wallets are getting smaller and smaller," said Ms. Ut.

"Sometimes I can't believe how quickly prices go up. Bird's eye chili peppers sometimes cost over 120,000 VND/kg, green onions 80,000 VND/kg, and they won't even sell them for a few thousand dong. I'll still do my shopping this Tet holiday, but I have to plan carefully," she said.

Thinking strategically, Ms. Ho Cam Tu, from Tan Thanh ward (Ca Mau province), said that holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year) are the times she buys a lot of specialty agricultural and aquatic products to give as gifts to her family and friends. "I usually buy essential items like dried shrimp and dried fish early and store them in the freezer. Prices fluctuate sharply closer to Tet, so buying early ensures good prices and quality products," Ms. Tu shared.

NGUYEN TRI - M.VINH - THANH HUYEN - KHAC TAM

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/no-luc-giu-gia-hang-tet-20251215081318256.htm