Shops operate at full capacity
Lao Dong's records during the National Day holiday September 2nd show that the number of people flocking to shopping centers in Hanoi increased sharply. Not only are the entertainment and shopping areas crowded, but many restaurants and eateries are also fully booked.
At Lotte Mall Tay Ho, the area where restaurants and eateries are concentrated is constantly crowded with customers. At noon on August 31, many groups of customers appeared waiting in front of some stores. Some restaurants announced waiting times of about an hour, even up to 1.5 hours at peak hours.
Talking to Lao Dong reporter, Ms. Pham Thi Hue, an employee of a restaurant at Lotte Mall Tay Ho, said that the number of customers during the holiday season increased sharply compared to normal days.
The store operates almost continuously at full capacity. During peak meal times, tables are often full, customers who come later have to get a number and wait. At times, we have to announce a fairly long waiting time," Ms. Hue said.
According to the female employee, because the restaurant is located in a shopping center, many customers still accept waiting time from an hour or more. After getting a number or registering for a location, customers take the opportunity to go shopping, have fun and then return when it's almost their turn.
Lotte Mall Tay Ho currently focuses on many types of services in the same complex such as shopping, cinemas, aquariums and a diverse restaurant system. The culinary category here ranges from fast food, food halls to restaurants serving Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Thai dishes...
During this year's National Day, this shopping center also simultaneously implements many shopping, entertainment and promotion programs lasting from the end of August to the beginning of September, contributing to attracting a large number of customers to experience.
Accepting to wait because there are many activities for the whole family
Mr. Nguyen Phan Khuong Duy (Phu Tho) said that his family chose a shopping center as a destination on their trip to Hanoi because it can combine many activities in one location.
Adults can shop, children can go to the aquarium, and the whole family can watch movies and eat. Not having to travel to many places is quite convenient," Mr. Duy said.
However, what impressed him during the holidays was that most areas were very crowded. From entertainment venues to dining areas, there were large numbers of visitors.
My family chose a Thai restaurant to eat, but when we arrived, the staff informed us that we had to wait about an hour for a table. Because we had decided to go out on the winter holiday, the family still agreed to wait," Mr. Duy shared.
Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Thao Nhi (Hung Yen) said that one of the reasons her family chooses to eat and drink in a shopping center is that the price is clearly listed.
Although there are many customers, I see that prices are still stable. I prioritize stores in shopping centers because prices are listed, and I don't worry about price increases during holidays. The restaurants here are also diverse in dishes and prices, suitable for many family members," Ms. Nhi said.
According to records, despite waiting for a long time, many families still choose to eat and drink right at the shopping center instead of moving to another location. The ability to combine entertainment - shopping - eating and drinking in the same space is making shopping centers one of the notable choices for people and tourists during holidays.
