As Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, people in Ha Noi are preparing for the New Year and are busy shopping.

Hanoians choose jackets at a roadside shop

Although recent months have seen a global economic crisis, shoppers have been attracted by price cuts and are swamping supermarkets, department stores and street sellers.

Some foods have seen slight price increases as the big day approaches. Beef and chicken have increased by VND10,000 per kilo over the last few days, pork prices remain stable.

Some businesses have said there will be small price increases until Ong Cong Ong Tao (Day of the Kitchen Gods and the Land Genie) January 16. Food prices will be further increased until Tet.

Though food prices have increased, electronics, furniture and clothes have seen price cuts in large shopping centers.

On major roads and streets with shops, prices have been slashed with electronic goods seeing the greatest discounts.

Promotions to attract customers have brought discounts for electronics of 20-50 percent, in some cases up to 70 percent. The prices of clothes have also been cut.

With customers looking for bargains, hawkers and peddlers have added to the already bustling streets, with many spilling onto the roads, selling cheap clothes, kitchen wares and bed clothing.
 
For the Vietnamese, Tet is a special time of year. Not so long ago families would gather to wrap chung cake (square glutinous rice), then crowd around a fire to boil it. During the evening, firecrackers would have been let off from most houses.