Markets thriving on international women’s day

Big C Thang Long’s two-weak discount programme entitled “Honouring Vietnamese beauty” has more than 700 products on sale from March 1 to 15.

Co-opmart Thanh Xuan’s similar programme provides “lovely gifts” with discounts of 45 percent or more on 1,000 fashion and 3,000 cosmetics items, from February 9 to March 10.

Small gift packages worth VND50,000-VND150,000 are nicely wrapped in advance to save time for customers after making a good choice.

Nguyen Van Quan, a customer at Co-opmart Thanh Xuan, said March 8 is a special day for people to express their love for women. “I often cook on the day and present gifts to my wife and daughter,” he added.

Lan Anh, a flower seller, said “flower prices only rise slightly by 5-10 percent during these days due to the fine weather. I have received more online orders than last year.”

Valentine’s Day (February 14) fell on the fifth day of the first lunar month of this year, when locals were busy celebrating the Tet holiday, and many people missed the chance to present flowers to their partners and loved ones. That’s why they’re now making the most of International Women’s Day to buy flowers for their women, Lan Anh explained.

Many customers tend to go for made-in-Vietnam footwear, clothes, bags and cosmetics as gifts.

As International Women’s Day falls on this Friday, travel agents have also offered discounts of up to 45 percent to female passengers on both domestic and out-bound flights during the weekend. Most travelers prefer short tours inside Vietnam and to some neighbouring countries.

The online market is also thriving with various kinds of gifts such as love pillows, photo frames, themed mugs, and matching rings.