Trend of early shopping, prioritizing practical products
New Year's Day 2026 is approaching, the shopping market in Ho Chi Minh City has begun to become bustling. At major supermarkets, Tet goods such as confectionery, soft drinks, dry goods, and home decorations are sold early, and many products have year-end incentives.
Ms. Bich Ngoc (Vuon Lai ward) said that she has taken the opportunity to buy some food for her family to use during the upcoming New Year, and at the same time gradually prepare for the Lunar New Year.
I buy dry goods, spices, and soft drinks in advance because they last longer. Every week I buy a little to save money, and I don't get bored by Tet. This year, some items are having promotions, buying in combos is cheaper than buying retail" - Ms. Ngoc shared.
According to records, in retail systems, the supply of goods is stable and prices are stable. Many businesses increase promotions to stimulate year-end shopping demand.
From a market perspective, Ms. Nguyen Phuong Nga - Business Director of Numerator Vietnam said that natural disasters, tax fluctuations, price increases or concerns about food safety... make consumers tend to be more cautious. They prioritize goods that serve practical needs, are good for health, reduce gift purchases, increase online shopping and go to mini supermarkets for convenience and time saving.
Sharing the same view, Ms. Vu Kim Hanh - Chairwoman of the Vietnam High-Quality Goods Business Association, said that the trend of tightening spending is clear, forcing businesses to adjust to avoid "out of sync" with the market. Many manufacturers have switched to smaller scales, investing in eye-catching packaging, focusing on product standards, exploiting local raw materials to optimize costs and increase usage value.
Price stabilization goods source ensures 23–42% of Tet month demand
Mr. Ngo Hong Y - Deputy Head of Trade Management Department (Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade), said that many solutions have been implemented to ensure supply for the Binh Ngo Tet. The 2025 market stabilization program attracted 72 units to participate, mostly large enterprises with high market share such as Saigon Co.op, Satra, Central Retail, MM Mega Market, Bach Hoa Xanh... In which, the price situation of pork, chicken and essential goods is closely monitored.
For goods serving Tet, businesses participating in the price stabilization program commit to maintaining price stability, not adjusting increases in the 1 month before Tet and 1 month after Tet. The total value of goods prepared for Binh Ngo Tet is estimated at over 26,000 billion VND, of which the source of price stabilization goods is over 9,000 billion VND, meeting 23-42% of the market demand for Tet, contributing to inflation control.
Businesses will also deeply reduce prices near Tet for essential commodity groups such as pork, chicken, poultry eggs..., and at the same time expand promotions for Tet commodity groups such as confectionery, soft drinks, clothes... to maintain abundant supply, creating conditions for people to feel secure in shopping.
From now until the Lunar New Year of Binh Ngo 2026, the Department of Industry and Trade will continue to implement many solutions to stabilize the market; in which the market stabilization program combined with the "Mobile Sales - Market Stabilization" plan in 2025 - Binh Ngo 2026 will ensure sufficient supply of essential goods at reasonable prices. Especially focusing on supporting workers and low-income workers in industrial parks, export processing zones and remote areas, helping everyone have conditions to shop for Tet.
In parallel, there are measures to regulate supply and demand, avoid traffic breakdowns, and prevent speculation, hoarding goods, causing price fever.
