Hanoians calm before storm No. 3, no longer rush to store food

The number of visitors did not increase dramatically

Recorded at some stalls in traditional markets in Me Tri area (Hanoi), the number of customers did not increase dramatically due to the news of storm No. 3 (storm Wipha) about to make landfall.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van An, a food trader here, the price has not changed significantly: "root and fish meat are still sold at normal prices today. Customers are not buying more, their mentality is different now".

Squeezing vegetables at late afternoon, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa shared: I buy food to cook in the afternoon, because I have a busy afternoon. Today I found the market quite deserted, with enough vegetables and fruits to buy anything I wanted, without any product burning.

In large supermarkets such as Go Thang Long and Winmart, food stalls are still full. According to records, the prices of essential items such as ground pork are priced at 120,000 VND/kg, Pork legumes are priced at 47,000 VND/kg, pork belly is only 147,000 VND/kg, pork belly is priced at 103,000 VND/kg, cucumber is 18,000 VND/kg, baby pumpkin is 89,900 VND/kg, corn is 32,900 VND/kg... The stalls do not have the scene of people lining up or "sweeping" the stalls like before.

Some images recorded by Lao Dong reporter on September 21:

The fact that the market is not fluctuating shows that the distribution system has been carefully prepared, from the supply to the transportation stage. At the same time, people's mentality is also increasingly proactive and calm in the face of extreme weather information.

Supermarkets add vegetables and fruits

According to the reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper at Winmart Cau Giay supermarket (Cau Giay ward, Hanoi), since the early afternoon of July 21 - although it is not yet rush hour, hundreds of people have gathered to shop. The vegetable and fruit areas are crowded, at times the vegetable shelves such as water spinach, Malabar spinach, sweet potato leaves... are empty, forcing employees to add goods.

"I took the initiative to go early but many types of vegetables such as water spinach, Malabar spinach and mustard have run out, leaving only a few spices," said Ms. Nguyet - a resident of Cau Giay ward. Awards at payment counters show that people have to wait in line for their turn for many hours.

The bustling shopping situation took place in the context of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting warning that from the day and night of July 22, the northern and western areas of Hanoi (including Bat Bat, Ba Vi, Son Tay, Xuan Mai, Hoa Lac, Quoc Oai, Hoai Duc, Soc Son) will have winds gradually increasing to level 4 - 5, gusting to level 6.

Meanwhile, the southern and central areas of the city (Tu Liem, Thuong Cat, Dong Anh, Phu Xuyen, Van Dinh, Chuong My, Thanh Tri, Thanh Oai, Ba Dinh, Lang, Gia Lam, Thanh Xuan, Hoang Mai, Hoan Kiem, Ha Dong) will have strong winds of level 5, sometimes level 6, gusting to level 7 - 8.

The meteorological agency warns that strong winds can cause trees to fall, damage houses, traffic works and infrastructure, and potentially endanger people's lives. In this situation, the mentality of proactively storing necessities has begun to spread in many residential areas in the city.

Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Van - Communications Director of Central Retail Vietnam Group said: "Currently, purchasing power at GO! supermarkets in the North is still taking place normally, with no signs of people hoarding goods.

However, drawing experience from previous storms and floods, we have fully prepared essential food sources, with the most stable prices to serve the people".

Central Retail representative also affirmed that they will maintain a stable supply source, to avoid shortages and price fever, helping people feel secure in preventing storms.

Food prices increase slightly

On the afternoon of July 21, many traditional markets in Hanoi recorded a significant increase in the number of buyers. Some essential items such as eggs, vegetables, meat, chicken... have increased slightly in price due to people's need for food reserves before the time of storm No. 3.

According to the reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, traditional markets such as Nghia Tan, Ha Dong, Dong Xa, Dich Vong... are crowded with people coming to buy goods, especially at meat, vegetable, egg, chicken stalls. Prices of some essential goods have been slightly adjusted compared to normal days.

Chicken eggs increased from 30,000 VND to 35,000 VND/dozen; duck eggs from 28,000 VND to 33,000 VND/dozen. Water spinach increased from 10,000 VND to 13,000 VND/bunch; cabbage was sold for 20,000 VND/kg. Meat chicken prices also recorded an increase, currently fluctuating around 135,000 VND/kg, an increase of about 15,000 VND/kg. Shoulder and tripe pork costs only about 150,000 VND/kg, a slight increase of 10,000 VND/kg compared to normal days.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen - a pork trader at Ha Dong market said: "From morning until now, customers buy more, mainly storing them for 2-3 days. Although the amount of goods flowing into the market is still stable, the import price from the unit has increased, so it is necessary to adjust".

Despite increased purchasing power, traders at many markets said that people do not have the mentality of saving too much but only buy enough for the next few days. The shopping atmosphere is bustling but there is no jostling or local shortage of goods.

According to many sellers, prices may continue to fluctuate in the coming days if the stormy weather continues, affecting the supply of green vegetables and fresh food. However, most stalls have affirmed that they will try to keep prices stable, ensuring supply to serve people's consumption needs during the rainy and stormy days.