From January 25 to February 3, 2025 (from the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month to the 6th day of the Lunar New Year), the provincial market followed typical seasonal patterns without any signs of supply shortages, price spikes, or market instability.
Although demand for consumer goods, production materials, and food processing surged in the lead-up to Tet, prices of essential goods remained relatively stable due to abundant supply and a wide variety of products that catered to consumer preferences and Tet shopping needs. Goods supplied and consumed during Tet mainly included food items such as glutinous rice, regular rice, pork, beef, chicken, seafood, poultry eggs, sugar, cooking oil, cookies, candied fruits, confections, various nuts, fruits, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, and ornamental items like flowers and decorative plants.
On January 16, 2025, the Department of Industry and Trade conducted inspections and assessed inventory levels at several local markets and supermarkets. At that time, the market remained relatively quiet. However, starting from the 23rd day of the lunar month, market activity increased significantly as consumers began shopping for the Kitchen Gods' ceremony and year-end gatherings.
A variety of price-stabilized goods available at Quang Tri Co.opmart. Photo: Le Thi Huyen
In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, especially from the 26th day of the lunar month, products such as cakes, jams, candies, alcohol, beverages, fresh flowers, fruits, vegetables, seafood, beef, and poultry (live chickens) saw a significant increase in demand. Prices of some items rose slightly by around 3%-7%, but the increase was not substantial. The highest shopping demand from the people concentrated around the 28th and 29th of the lunar month. Ms. Hồ Thị Thanh Duyên, Deputy Director of Co.opmart Quang Tri Supermarket, shared: “In the days close to the Lunar New Year, the number of customers increased. Specifically, on the 27th and 28th of the lunar month, the average daily sales were about 2 billion VND/day, with around 960 million VND on the 29th. Sales in the two months before the Lunar New Year reached 59.5 billion VND, the same as the same period last year.”
On the afternoon of the 29th of the lunar month, most markets, supermarkets, and shopping centers closed for the holiday. Traditional markets resumed operation on the 4th and 5th of the Lunar New Year to meet the shopping needs of the people. Besides fruits and vegetables, the main items sold were fresh foods such as seafood, beef, and live chicken. According to Mr. Lê Minh Quốc, Head of Dong Ha Market Management Board: “Prices of some essential items after the New Year remain stable. The prices on February 3, 2025 (the 6th day of the Lunar New Year) are as follows: Pork tenderloin: 120,000 VND/kg; Beef tenderloin: 250,000 VND/kg; Green cabbage, white cabbage, pumpkin: 14,000 VND/kg; Shrimp: 230,000 VND/kg; Farmed snakehead fish: 70,000 VND/kg; Wild snakehead fish: 110,000 VND/kg; Carp: 50,000 VND/kg; Local chicken: 130,000 VND/kg; Industrial chicken: 70,000 VND/kg; Regular rice: 15,000 VND/kg; Good quality rice: 20,000 VND/kg.”
The Winmart+ store system reopened on the 4th day of the Lunar New Year. Co.opmart Quang Tri Supermarket resumed normal operations on the morning of the 6th day of the Lunar New Year. Within the supermarket and store system, there was a rich and diverse supply of goods with stable prices, but consumer demand had not yet increased significantly. The most consumed items were mainly food, especially fruits, vegetables, beef, pork, and seafood.
More and more people are adopting a more frugal spending habit, with increasing numbers of customers shopping at supermarkets and shopping centers, and online shopping becoming more popular through platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and Zalo. As a result, traditional markets saw a decrease in purchasing power compared to previous years.
Bustling shopping scene at Quang Tri Co.opmart. Photo: Quoc Bao
Overall, the market during this Tet holiday remained stable. The supply of essential goods, food, and other necessities before, during, and after the Lunar New Year was sufficient, thanks to proactive planning by district, town, and city-level authorities under the provincial government's directives and the Department of Industry and Trade’s instructions on balancing supply-demand and stabilizing the year-end and Tet market.
The Provincial Market Management Department focused on inspections, monitoring, and direct communication at markets, supermarkets, and key areas including remote and disadvantaged regions. Emphasis was placed on monitoring price listings, selling at listed prices, product origins, and labeling to ensure compliance during Tet. Furthermore, designated units responsible for market stabilization Quang Tri Co.opmart and Quang Tri Trading Corporation had well-prepared plans and contingencies for stockpiling and supplying Tet goods./.
IPA