Smart Tet shopping

In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, the goods market in Lao Cai entered its peak shopping season. Supermarkets were crowded after working hours, and traditional markets were bustling from early morning, but the hoarding and stockpiling seen in the past were gone. Many families made shopping lists from home, prioritizing essential goods, Vietnamese products, and local produce, creating a lively yet measured shopping season.

Stepping into GO! Supermarket in Yen Bai at this time, the Tet atmosphere is evident in the red of the decorative banners, the shelves full of cakes and candies, and the gift basket counters displaying items at various price points. During after-hours, the number of customers increases rapidly, but there is no crowding. Customers push their carts along the aisles, stopping to compare prices and carefully examine product information before making a purchase.

The Tet shopping atmosphere in the vegetable and fruit section of the supermarket in the days leading up to Tet.

In the Tet gift basket section, pre-packaged gift baskets are displayed side-by-side, with prices ranging from a few hundred thousand dong to over one million dong. It's easy to see that compact gift baskets with familiar items like candies, tea, coffee, and nuts are chosen by more customers than the more elaborate and expensive ones.

Customers push their carts along the aisles, stopping to compare prices and carefully examine product information before making a purchase.

Mr. Hoang Ngoc Tinh, an office worker in the province, said: “This year, my family made a list before going shopping. A gift basket costing around 300,000 to 500,000 VND is suitable for my family. We also bought enough food to use so that there would be no leftovers or waste after Tet.”

According to Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, Director of GO! Supermarket in Yen Bai, purchasing power has increased sharply these days, with the number of customers shopping being 3-4 times higher than usual. The product categories showing the most significant growth are those for gifting and preparing for Tet (Lunar New Year), such as gift baskets, confectionery, beverages, and local specialties.

Customers choose confectionery and consumer goods at supermarkets during the peak Tet shopping season.

To prepare for the peak season, the supermarket worked with suppliers 4-5 months in advance to finalize inventory, ensuring a stable supply, and also increased warehousing and staffing. "People can rest assured that they can shop only what they need, without having to stockpile too early," Mr. Tuan said.

The number of customers increased three to four times compared to normal days, but the payment process still ran smoothly.

The trend of planned shopping is also evident in the essential goods category. The fresh food, vegetable, and fruit sections are busier during peak hours, but many people choose to buy on a daily basis, especially fresh produce, instead of stockpiling large quantities.

The fresh produce, vegetables, and fruit section is busier during peak hours of the day.

Besides modern retail systems, the Tet shopping atmosphere also gradually becomes lively from early morning at traditional markets throughout the province.

The atmosphere at traditional markets in the days leading up to Tet is bustling from early morning, with a wide variety of vegetables and fruits on display.

Green vegetables, root vegetables, fruits, especially green bananas, dong leaves, onions, garlic, etc., are being sold in larger quantities than usual to meet the needs of preparing feasts and decorating for Tet.

Banana leaves are widely available at traditional markets, serving the needs of wrapping cakes during Tet (Vietnamese New Year).

Green bananas – an indispensable item in the traditional New Year's fruit platter – are widely available at traditional markets these days.

At Ben Do Market (Au Lau Ward), despite the light rain, the market was still quite crowded. Shoppers, wearing thin raincoats and carrying woolen bags, strolled between stalls, carefully selecting bunches of vegetables and considering prices before paying.

People shop at traditional markets in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year).

Instead of buying large quantities at once, many families choose to shop for groceries on different days to ensure fresh food and minimize waste.

People select vegetables at Ben Do market on a drizzly morning in the days leading up to Tet.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, a resident of Yen Bai ward, said that her family mainly buys food according to their needs for each meal because Tet (Lunar New Year) is no longer a big deal about having an elaborate feast. "Buying just enough, ensuring it's fresh and delicious, is sufficient," Ms. Mai shared.

At the same time, the Tet atmosphere is also bustling at flower and ornamental plant stalls throughout the province. Peach blossoms, kumquats, lilies, chrysanthemums, gladioli, etc., are brought in to meet the demand for home decoration.

The flower market area and flower street are bustling with people.

Many people go to look at the trees, inquire about prices beforehand, choose trees based on their shape and style, and time their purchase so that the flowers bloom and the fruit is beautiful just in time for Tet. This is also an indicator that the pace of shopping is gradually increasing, but in a more measured and calculated way.

People choose chrysanthemums and ornamental plants at a roadside stall in the province in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year).

A notable trend this year is the rise of purely Vietnamese Tet gift baskets. According to retail outlets, Tet gift baskets range in price from 165,000 VND to 1,400,000 VND, with the 200,000-500,000 VND price range being the most popular due to its affordability for many families. These domestically produced gift baskets are increasingly being invested in terms of packaging, ingredients, and quality standardization, meeting the demand for practical and budget-friendly gifting options.

Tet gift baskets are designed with eye-catching packaging and are priced appropriately for various segments, meeting the trend of practical gift-giving.

Through supermarkets and convenience stores, many distinctive products of Lao Cai province have also been introduced into modern distribution channels, including many OCOP products.

Séng cù rice, Mường Khương chili sauce, apple cider vinegar, apple cider jam, apple preserves, Giới Phiên vermicelli, sturgeon, salmon… continue to be popular choices for gifts and personal use during Tet (Lunar New Year) due to their consistent quality, ease of use, and reasonable prices. The prominent presence of local products in Tet gift baskets also demonstrates the strengthening trend of prioritizing Vietnamese goods during the peak season at the end of the year.

According to a report from the Department of Industry and Trade of Lao Cai province, purchasing power during the year-end period increased by approximately 30% compared to normal days and is forecast to continue to increase sharply after February 13, 2026 (the 26th day of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Snake) - the time when officials and civil servants begin their Tet holiday and shopping demand is concentrated on weekends. To proactively stabilize the market, businesses and commercial establishments have increased the amount of goods supplied to the market by about 30-40% compared to normal months. Many large retail systems have increased their inventory by about 20-40% compared to normal days; the total value of goods imported and in inventory to serve the year-end and Tet holiday is estimated at approximately 1,000 billion VND.

Market prices remained relatively stable, with only slight increases in some product groups. Live pig prices were commonly around 80,000 - 85,000 VND/kg; pork loin was around 140,000 VND/kg, and pork belly around 150,000 VND/kg. Some vegetables, such as cabbage, fluctuated between 5,000 - 7,000 VND/kg, and tomatoes around 20,000 VND/kg. Essential consumer goods like beer, soft drinks, and instant noodles remained largely unchanged.

The Department of Industry and Trade also stated that, despite the impact of African swine fever in 2015, thanks to disease control and the restocking efforts of livestock farmers, the supply of pork for the Tet holiday market remains stable, meeting the increased demand of approximately 20-30% compared to normal days.

Currently, the province has 160 traditional markets, 4 shopping centers, 10 supermarkets, 56 WinMart+ stores, and over 300 convenience stores, creating a widespread distribution network to ensure goods reach people promptly. Alongside ensuring supply, market management forces are required to strengthen inspections and strictly handle acts of speculation, hoarding, and commercial fraud; and to assign officers to be on duty 24/7 during peak days to promptly receive and handle public complaints.

Increased purchasing power and abundant supply have not resulted in shortages or localized price spikes. The Tet market remains vibrant, from supermarkets to traditional markets, but shopping is balanced and controlled. With consumers buying according to actual needs, businesses preparing supplies early, and regulatory agencies closely monitoring the market, the year-end peak season is no longer a time of supply stress as before. Tet is still abundant, but the way people shop has changed.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/sam-tet-thong-minh-post893604.html