Supermarkets 'sold out' as Ho Chi Minh City residents rush to buy to send relief aid to people in Central Vietnam

Goods "sold out" in just a few minutes

Since November 17, many large supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City have continuously "run out" of rice, noodles, milk, sanitary napkins... as people rushed to buy necessities to send to the Central region , especially Dak Lak (formerly Phu Yen ), which is struggling with severe floods.

According to Thanh Nien reporters on the evening of November 24 at Emart Phan Van Tri (An Nhon ward), streams of people flocked to the stalls. Some chose a bottle of mineral water, others bought a few kilos of rice, and a few boxes of fish...

Long lines of people waited for their turn to pay, many had to wait more than 20 minutes in the bustling space of the supermarket. Staff continuously coordinated and guided to avoid congestion.

Emart Phan Van Tri is packed with people

PHOTO: HA THUONG

Popular items include water, sanitary napkins, canned fish, bread, etc. The shelves are constantly replenished by staff, but are empty again after a while.

Ms. Bui Thi Minh Thu (Emart employee) said: "Since the beginning of the week, the supermarket has always been crowded with customers. Many items, if bought by the box, such as noodles, rice, milk, mineral water, and canned fish, are cheaper than in the market, so people are taking advantage of buying large quantities to send away."

The bottles of mineral water were brought down to the counter by the staff and quickly bought by the people to send to the people in the flooded areas.

PHOTO: HA THUONG

Not only Emart, Lotte Cong Hoa (Bay Hien ward, Ho Chi Minh City) is also in a similar situation. Noodles, rice, milk... are all empty on the counter. Items such as sausages, canned fish, fresh bread, sanitary napkins are almost sold out.

Kim Phuong (19 years old, from Gia Lai ) shared: "I had to go to two places, Winmart and Lotte Cong Hoa, to have enough items to bring to the gathering point. The goods were displayed on the shelves for a few minutes and then they were empty."

Canned fish also quickly sold out because many people bought in large quantities.

PHOTO: HA THUONG

Vietnamese people's hearts for the flood-hit areas of Central Vietnam: "Give as much as you can"

Not only adults, many young people also contributed. Ms. Bich Ngoc (23 years old, from Dong Nai ) was busy pushing the cart, choosing each barrel of water, each bag of rice to send out in time at night. She said: "The boss just called, 100% of the employees agreed. In less than a few hours, the whole company had collected about 5 million VND to buy necessities. Seeing the flood victims made me feel so sorry, I contributed whatever I could, as long as it helped them in some way."

Supermarket staff continuously stocked shelves, but many types of sanitary napkins quickly sold out due to high demand from people buying to support flood victims.

PHOTO: HA THUONG

In another corner, Ms. Nguyen Le Thanh Nha (25 years old, from Dong Nai) patiently chooses each pack of sanitary napkins, an essential item for women that is often lacking in natural disasters. Busy with office work all day, she takes the time to stop by the supermarket at night to buy more than 3 million VND in relief goods. "I don't have much, but I hope this little bit of kindness will reach the right place," Ms. Nha shared.

Ms. Nguyen Le Thanh Nha buys essential goods and contributes to sending them to flood victims.

PHOTO: HA THUONG

Bao Khanh (21 years old, from Dak Lak) bought things at Emart Phan Van Tri and then brought them to nearby gathering points to send to people in the flood-affected Central region.

Some had cars loaded with goods, others had motorbikes carrying boxes of noodles and packages of cakes. Kim Phuong was forever impressed by the scene of two students riding motorbikes to the warehouse, leaving a box of noodles, then taking out another package of cakes from their school bags, then asking if the warehouse needed volunteers to help.

Bao Khanh and barrels of mineral water were brought to the gathering point, preparing to send to people in flooded areas.

PHOTO: HA THUONG

In crowded supermarkets or on hurried buses, Vietnamese people's affection is recorded through each package of noodles, each carton of water, each can of fish, silently but powerfully, giving strength to the people in the flood-affected areas of the Central region to overcome these difficult days.