Gift markets in full swing on International Women’s Day

Big shopping centres are offering discounts and sales promotions and the prices of fresh flowers are on the rise.

For the gift markets on International Women’s Day this year, cosmetics remain favourite products for students, office staff and State employees. There has been no sharp increase in the prices of cosmetics compared to the same period last year and the types and designs of products are more diverse.

Cosmetics companies have marketed convenient and eye-catching products in recent years. Mrs Dung, a shop owner on Tran Duy Hung street in Hanoi, said that most people prefer sets of pre-wrapped products with well-known trademarks in the Vietnamese market because they look nice and suit their pocket books. Such product sets priced from VND60,000-120,000, include shampoo, shower gel and extra items such as a face-cloth and comb.

High-income earners are keen to choose high-quality products from world famous cosmetics firms such as Ohui, L’Oreal, Lancome, Shisheido, and Clinique with prices ranging from VND500,000 to VND5 million.

Well-known chocolate shops in Hanoi like Belcholat, and Sweeties are always packed with customers. Thanh Tung, a student from the Mining University said, “I want to buy chocolates made in Belgium because they taste so good.”

Many kinds of white and dark chocolates are made in different shapes such as hearts, scripts, and famous people and places. These chocolates sell for VND60,000-210,000 per bar.

Special gifts are also much sought after by young men to convey their love messages to their girlfriends.

Other popular gifts are online services, such as presenting songs or e-cards. Nguyen Nam, a student in Birmingham in the UK, says that his girlfriend is in Vietnam and he designed an e-card with a song, “More Than Words” to send to his girlfriend. “Hopefully, she will like my gift,” Nam says “I do not think expensive gifts are necessarily highly valued”.

Big commercial centres have launched seasonal discounts and sales promotions for the occasion. Big C is offering discount of 10-20 percent for fashion, cosmetic and food products.

For example, prices of cotton bags range from VND60,000-120,000 and with VND21,000, women can buy a new shirt.

At Vincom commercial centre, well-known cosmetic and fashion names, such as Triumph, Minoshe, Loccitane and Jeep, have cut prices.

Elizabeth Arden has reduced their perfumes by 30 percent and launched a “buy one give one” promotion for cosmetic products. JeansWest has also cut its products’ prices by 30-50 percent.

For three days (March 6,7,8), the Best Caring Centre will offer many surprises for customers, including lower prices and 300 bunches of roses to give to customers spending over VND2,000,000.

The Intimex supermarket has also launched many promotional programmes.

On March 8, men will not be able to forget to give women fresh flowers, especially roses. Flower shops along Kim Ma, Nguyen Chi Thanh, Kim Nguu and Kim Lien street are busy and crowded with customers. The price of a branch of rose is about VND10,000 – 15,000 while a bunch of lilies or orchids is around VND200,000- 300,000 and will continue to rise.

Tags: International Women’s Day in Vietnam, Vietnam market prices