It is noted that on streets specializing in selling decorations and souvenirs such as Hai Thuong Lan Ong, Nguyen Trai, shopping malls, bookstores, etc., Christmas gifts are sold in a variety of ways, from popular to high-end.
Popular items include pine trees, teddy bears, Santa Claus, snow globes, handmade items, cakes, scented candles... gift prices range from 50,000-150,000 VND for small products; prepackaged gift sets cost from 300,000 VND or more.
Ms. Ngoc Lan, a children's toy trader on Tran Hung Dao Street, said: "Parents prioritize safe gifts, educational or Christmas-related gifts to give to their children during the holiday, focusing on books, stories, assembly models, teddy bears...".
Records at shopping malls show that the number of visitors coming to visit and take Christmas photos is quite large, but the number of people buying large value gifts is not large. Many people choose gifts that are practical or can be used for a long time.
Mr. Vu Minh (Tan Thuan ward) said: "I bought gifts for colleagues and friends so I chose small sets at a reasonable price. Mainly with a Christmas atmosphere, not focusing on value".
Meanwhile, the service of renting Santa Claus to come to their home to give gifts is attracting customers on the days before Christmas. With prices ranging from a few hundred thousand to more than a million VND per trip, depending on the time and accompanying requirements, many families, stores and small businesses choose this form to surprise children and the festive atmosphere.
Mr. Le Quoc Hoang, who has been a seasonal "Santa" for more than 5 years, said: "Since mid-December, my show schedule has been almost closed, with a peak of 4-5 points per night. Most of the visitors are families with young children, they want to create surprises so that the children can have the joy of joining the Christmas atmosphere.
From the perspective of sellers, many traders said that the market this year is lower than previous years. Ms. Nguyen Thi Bang, owner of a gift shop on Nguyen Trai Street, said: "The goods are very diverse, the import price is stable but purchasing power has decreased slightly. There are many customers coming to see it, because they also tighten spending.
To stimulate demand, stores have increased discounts, giving away free gift packages and cards, while boosting sales via social networks and e-commerce platforms.
Although purchasing power has not broken out, Christmas is still an occasion to create a vibrant atmosphere for Ho Chi Minh City at the end of the year. According to traders, the peak shopping season for gifts will fall about a week before Christmas Eve, when the demand for gifts for family, friends and colleagues increases. Therefore, stores expect that on December 19-21, right on the weekend before Christmas, there will be more customers choosing to buy gifts.
