On the afternoon of August 31, with more than 1 day left until the official parade, many people came to Hang Ma Street to shop for accessories and "check-in" the street covered with red flags with yellow stars.
Ms. Tran Thi Loan (Ha Dong ward, Hanoi) took her 2 children to Hang Ma street early in the afternoon. By 5pm, the couple had bought all the flags, scarves, balloons, hairpins...
"I bought comfortably for the mother and child for less than 600,000 VND. The children were very excited. Many tourists passing by saw the children holding flags in their hands and sticking a ticket with the flag shape on their cheeks, then turned back and said: "Hello Vietnam!". My children are also playing. The atmosphere of the river festival has never been so strong. We are even more excited to see the A80 parade..., Ms. Loan shared.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Hung (Quang Trung ward, Thanh Hoa) and his wife took their two children to Hanoi from the evening of August 30. On the morning of August 31, his whole family visited and ate in the old town. Mr. Hung said that because his children were still young, he did not "squeeze" to wait to see the sidewalk but asked a friend to book a hotel early so that the children could rest.
"The hotel has a balcony, I will call my children to wake up early on the morning of September 2 to join in the atmosphere of the whole nation," said Mr. Hung.
On the afternoon of August 31, Mr. Hung's family was present at Hang Ma Street, shopping for dozens of types of accessories. "I find the price very affordable and easy to choose. The T-shirt depends on the material, the price is only from 50,000 VND/piece, the careful towel is only 40,000 VND/piece, said Mr. Hung.
Ms. Bui Thuy Nga, owner of a store on Hang Ma Street, said that during the A80, there were many quite new items, attracting a large number of people, especially children such as bamboo lights with the shape of the national flag, red flag balloons with yellow stars...
"There are many goods and affordable prices, so we sell quickly," said Ms. Nga.
According to a survey by reporters, many people, including many from other provinces and cities, not only come to Hanoi for a walk but also have a hard time shopping on Hang Ma Street. Most of them bought them and immediately used them to take photos.
Diverse items such as bamboo sticks with Vietnamese maps are decorated at 580,000 VND/piece; T-shirts at 50,000 - 100,000 VND/piece; flag-shaped balloons at 20,000 VND/piece; small flag-shaped scarves at 40,000 VND/piece, large at 50,000 VND/piece; bamboo-woven lamps at 20,000 VND/piece...
