Hypermarkets in Hanoi such as BigC, Metro and Fivilmark are bustling about offering 10-50 percent discounts on different kinds of goods. A chain of fashion shops, along Cau Giay and Xuan Thuy roads, including international brands such as Triumph, are bedecked with promotion banners and posters.

Many customers now prefer to buy products for practical use at reasonable prices from such firms as Olay, Enchanteur, Johnson, Double Rich, and Hazeline. Among the best-sellers are shampoo and face powder imported from Japan and France, which are sold at VND120,000-200,000 per bottle or box.

A special programme to ‘honour Vietnamese beauty’ has been launched at BigC supermarket, with the participation of 60 major Vietnamese and world cosmetics firms like Mabeline, Garnier, Olay, Revlon, Ponds, Nivea, Rexona, Biore Sunsilk, Dove, Rejoice, and Pantene. Customers have a chance to view their products and receive advice on using cosmetics and ways to take care of their hair, skin, lips and teeth.

Fresh flowers - no longer first choice

The flower market seems quieter than last year. Shops along Hai Ba Trung, Xuan Thuy, Kim Ma and Tran Xuan Soan streets display eye-catching bouquets of flowers, but most of passers-by just stop to admire rather than buy them as they are very expensive.

The bouquets are so meticulously arranged in different styles but to many, they are so luxurious for daily life. Instead of buying flowers, many customers turn to perfume. As for students and pupils, they cannot afford to buy such luxuries. Dat, a student from the Trade Union University has decided to present his girlfriend with a book on this occasion. “This would be more meaningful and practical than flowers, which usually survive one or two days,” he said.

On average, a bouquet costs from VND60,000 to 100,000 but the prices of beautiful flowers like orchids hover somewhere between VND130,000 and 200,000. Da Lat madonna lily is sold for as much as VND250,000 or 400,000 per bouquet.