What are some practical Christmas gifts?

At this time, the Christmas and New Year atmosphere has spread to every corner, from small shops to large shopping malls in Ho Chi Minh City.

Young people in Ho Chi Minh City take advantage of the weekend to stroll through shopping malls and enjoy the early Christmas atmosphere - Photo: NHAT XUAN

According to Tuoi Tre newspaper, Christmas goods this year are priced stably and come in a wide variety of designs. The most popular items remain teddy bears, snow globes, handmade crafts, and scented candles, ranging from 50,000 to 150,000 VND for small items, while pre-packaged gift sets cost from 300,000 VND upwards.

The trend favors practical gifts.

Strolling around a shopping mall in downtown Ho Chi Minh City on a weekend evening, Uyen (a 25-year-old office worker residing in Gia Dinh ward) said she was looking for a small Christmas gift to participate in a gift exchange activity with her colleagues on December 24th. After considering her options, she chose a cute little thermos flask.

According to Uyen, a thermos flask is something almost anyone can use, and even if not used, it can be displayed as a decorative item in the kitchen, adding a touch of charm. "The rules of the game stipulate that the prize must be over 100,000 VND, so I found the thermos flask to be the most practical option within that price range. Although it's mainly for fun, I still want the recipient to be able to use it for a long time," Uyen shared.

Similarly, Quang Anh (30 years old, residing in Nhieu Loc ward) also took advantage of the weekend evening to browse through many shops to find a Christmas gift for his girlfriend. Because his girlfriend's birthday coincides with Christmas, he said that every year he "struggles" to choose a truly special gift.

After some deliberation, he decided to choose a blind box containing 24 makeup and skincare products, attractively packaged in the signature green and red colors of the Christmas season.

"I find the blind box both fun and quite practical. If you only give one item like lipstick, powder, or foundation, it might not be suitable; but with 24 items, including both makeup and skincare, there's bound to be something useful. If you don't like something... blame the store, because only the seller knows what's inside the blind box," he said with a laugh.

Electronic gift vouchers and utility services are also being chosen by many businesses this holiday season. Speaking to Tuổi Trẻ newspaper, a representative from bTaskee, an application connecting home cleaning services, said that their electronic gift cards, despite being launched in their first year, have received significant interest from many businesses, who are purchasing them to give to employees and partners at the end of the year.

According to this source, businesses favor this model because of its flexibility, ease of use, and ability to meet the practical needs of recipients. "Single people can choose house cleaning, laundry, or hair washing; families with young children can use babysitting services; and those living far from relatives can book elderly care services," this person said.

Besides gift cards, neck and shoulder massage packages and treatments are also being ordered by many businesses for their employees during the Christmas season. Some companies order hundreds of massage sessions as a form of health care for their workers at the end of the year.

A variety of places to both play and shop.

Many people suggest that if you're having trouble choosing a gift, you could invite your significant other out for a date to make the gift selection easier. Currently, shopping malls in Ho Chi Minh City are in their peak season, ramping up decorations and implementing numerous promotional programs for Christmas and New Year.

Speaking to Tuổi Trẻ newspaper, Ms. Lâm Thị Kim Trang, Head of Marketing at Parc Mall, said that brands at the mall will simultaneously launch new seasonal products, implement discount programs, and offer gifts to show appreciation to customers.

In addition, Parc Mall also organizes many themed activities such as Christmas decorations, weekend entertainment events, minigames, and food fairs to create a vibrant shopping atmosphere. After about 20 days of implementing the Christmas campaign, Ms. Trang said that the number of visitors to Parc Mall increased significantly, with an average of about 26,000 visitors/day on weekdays and 47,000 visitors/day on weekends, an increase of nearly 30% compared to weekdays and about 15% compared to the same period last year.

"Today's consumers not only go to shopping malls to shop but also seek out experiential spaces; they want a place where the whole family can have fun and relax during the holidays," Ms. Trang said.

Similarly, Ms. Le Thuy Truc Ngu, Marketing Director of Van Hanh Mall, said that in addition to discount programs, the mall is stepping up Christmas decorations and continuously organizing product launch events for fashion , cosmetics, and films with the participation of artists, KOLs, and KOCs from now until the end of the year to increase its appeal.

Expected increase in revenue and customer numbers.

In the high-end retail segment, a representative from Diamond Plaza stated that the center invests in modern-style interior design. Check-in areas are strategically located at the storefront, main lobby, and shopping floors, combined with a series of promotions, workshops, and weekend events.

"The shopping center expects double-digit increases in revenue and customer traffic during peak periods such as Christmas and the days leading up to New Year. To serve the peak season, we have increased our operational, security, and customer service staff, and have flexibly extended operating hours when necessary," a representative from Diamond Plaza said.

Nhat Xuan

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/noel-tang-qua-gi-thiet-thuc-20251222075901763.htm