According to Lao Dong's records, the atmosphere at the Spring Fair on Sunday was much more bustling than on weekdays despite the light rain. Right at the beginning of the opening hour, the entrances were already bustling with people. Many people took advantage of the weekend holiday to visit the fair, choose food, gifts, regional specialties and consumer goods to serve the Binh Ngo Lunar New Year 2026.
Present at the fair from early morning, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc (60 years old, Ba Dinh ward, Hanoi) and her daughter leisurely strolled through the food and regional OCOP products booth area. According to Ms. Ngoc, going to the Tet fair is not only to buy goods but also an opportunity to feel the approaching spring atmosphere.
Going to a rich goods fair, and having art performances, it's very fun. Especially being able to directly see and try products helps me feel more secure when choosing food and drinks for Tet" - Ms. Ngoc said.
In the bustling crowd, Mr. Ngo Quang Binh (26 years old, Ha Dong ward, Hanoi) and a group of friends invited each other to buy things to bring back to their hometown as Tet gifts for their families.
Normally I often shop online because it's convenient, but during Tet I prefer to go out to feel the atmosphere. I've only been to about half of the fair so far but have already bought quite a few specialties from different regions" - Mr. Binh shared.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong (38 years old, Hoang Mai ward, Hanoi) said that although the weather is rainy and cold, her family still takes advantage of the weekend to go to the Tet shopping fair. "At the end of the year, work is busy, so only on holidays do we have time to take the whole family shopping. Going to the fair, we can choose clean food and gifts, and there is a very clear Tet atmosphere. It's raining but we still feel happy, because we both go shopping and let our children enjoy regional cultural performances" - Ms. Huong shared.
At the specialty booth area, many OCOP products and local goods attract many customers. Mr. Tran Binh Dong from Tran Lam Gia Phat Co., Ltd. said that the unit's sun-dried beef, dried meat, and sausage products have achieved OCOP product certification, and are strictly inspected for food safety and raw material origin.
According to businesses, consumers today not only care about prices but also place heavily emphasis on quality, safety and brand reputation. Therefore, at the fair, businesses boldly allow customers to try products in large quantities to create trust. "When customers directly taste and find them delicious, they are willing to come back to buy, even place large orders. Some customers who bought products at the Autumn Fair have now returned to the Spring Fair to order, buying orders up to tens of millions of VND to give to relatives and friends" - Mr. Tran Binh Dong shared.
Besides direct sales, many units combine advertising through social networks, livestreams, and e-commerce platforms. However, according to businesses, the traditional form at the fair still has its own advantages when consumers can directly experience products, thereby strengthening trust and deciding to buy faster.
The shopping atmosphere is even more exciting thanks to a series of promotional programs according to the time frame. From 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, the Sai Dong Garment Joint Stock Company booth implements many incentives such as selling shirts at the same price of 249,000 VND; buying 2 products at the original price, giving away 1 polo shirt; discount of 15 - 20% according to the value of the invoice.
Not only stopping at shopping activities, the Spring Fair also brings a colorful entertainment space. In the morning, in hall 7, a performance program of the Vietnam National Opera & Ballet Theatre took place with songs about spring, Hanoi, attracting a large audience to watch.
In the afternoon and evening, the Vietnam Circus Federation and the Vietnam Puppet Theater brought many special performances such as artistic framing, jump ropes, puppetry "Fragrant flowers, flowering butterflies", "Happy harvest day"... creating attractive highlights for children and families.
The combination of shopping and enjoying art makes the fair an ideal weekend destination. Many families said that they both take advantage of Tet shopping and let their children experience the festive atmosphere and watch traditional art performances.
