With just two weeks left until the Lunar New Year, Binh Tay Market in District 6, a hub for wholesale food, confectionery, and other goods, has seen an increase in activity.

The variety of dried goods and traditional sweets on display offers customers a wide range of options. According to some traders, purchasing activity has risen by 5–10% compared to earlier this month.

However, the overall buying power has decreased compared to previous years.

Seventy-year-old Ung Thi Hoa, who owns a confectionery stall, shared that she has reduced her stock by nearly half compared to previous years.

“In the past, I would order tons of sweets for the New Year season. But this year, I’m only ordering a few hundred kilograms and restocking only when necessary,” Hoa said.

She explained that Binh Tay Market, predominantly a wholesale market, typically winds down sales about a week before the Lunar New Year. Many confectionery producers have already stopped making holiday goods due to subdued demand.

To diversify her offerings, Hoa has included new products such as strawberry and guava preserves, priced at around 250,000 VND (approximately $10) per kilogram. Despite the variety, most shoppers are retail customers purchasing small quantities.

Thuy Linh, a retailer, carefully checked the expiration dates on sweets at one stall.

Linh, who started stocking Lunar New Year products over a week ago, shared that due to slow sales, she only orders 20–30 kilograms of each item.

“Prices have increased by 1–2% this year. I usually sell out my holiday stock, but this year I’m nervous about ordering too much. I hope the coming days will be better,” she said.

Meanwhile, Thanh Loan, a shopper from District 8, has begun buying confectionery and offerings for the New Year.

“This year, prices haven’t changed much. I always prepare a budget early in the month because Lunar New Year shopping requires attention to detail,” she remarked.

Outside Binh Tay Market, stalls selling dried goods and sausages are attracting a steady stream of customers. Dried shrimp, a popular Lunar New Year gift, is priced at approximately 1.2 million VND (about $50) per kilogram.

In contrast, at Tân Định Market, fabric stalls are seeing sparse traffic. According to a vendor, fewer people are buying fabric since ready-made clothing has become the preferred option.

To adapt to changing consumer habits, many traders are exploring online sales channels to reach a broader audience and boost turnover during this festive season.

Nguyen Hue