HO CHI MINH CITY, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- There is still more than a week until Christmas, however cheap nike air max 2019 womens , many Vietnamese especially those in big cities like Hanoi and southern Ho Chi Minh (HCM) City, are busy preparing for the event. They go shopping for decorative items for their Christmas trees, offices and houses and purchase items with promotional discounts.
In HCM City, shops on Hai Ba Trung, Vo Thi Sau, Cach Mang Thang Tam, Nguyen Trai and Hai Thuong Lan Ong streets are busier than usual, selling a wide range of Christmas decorations, like pine trees,Santa Claus effigies and outfits, stone grottoes cheap nike air max 2019 shoes , tinsel, lights,lanterns, snowmen, clothes and other gift items.
Phuong Nguyen, 50, owner of a shop in Hai Ba Trung Street, told Xinhua that demand for Christmas decoration items has strongly increased compared to last year. "My customers buy mostly pine trees, jingle bells, ornamental balls, laurel wreaths cheap nike air max 2019 wholesale , and Santa Claus effigies, and prices have gone up by almost 10 percent over last year,"Phuong said, adding that the merrier festive spirit might be thanks to positive economic results that the city has recorded so far this year, which are higher than the average level nationwide.
With their living conditions improved, people will be better able to afford and enjoy the holidays, including Christmas and New Year,which were previously less celebrated than the traditional lunar New Year in Vietnam, said the shop owner.
In her shop, artificial pine trees measuring 1.2 m to 1.5 m cost between 400,000 and 700 cheap nike air max 2019 ,000 VND (20-35 U.S. dollars) depending on the material,design and size. There are also ready- decorated trees and decoration services for busy customers.
Santa Claus clothes and hats are sold with prices ranging from 10,000-30,000 VND (0.5-1.5 U.S. dollars) for a hat, and 100,000- 300,000 VND (5-15 U.S. dollars) for clothes depending on materials and sizes.
A 2 meter-long string of tinsel costs around 30,000 VND (1.5 U. S. dollars)and boxes of five colorful Christmas baubles are priced at 70,000-90,000 VND (3.5-4.5 U.S. dollars).
In big supermarkets like Co.opmart, Big C nike air max 2019 outlet nz , and Lotte Mart, pine trees, Santa Claus statues, Christmas costumes, balls and lights are placed in prominent places and inviting promotions are offered to shoppers.
The Big C, for example, is offering discounts of up to 49 percent on 1,500 items during Dec. 2 to 25, including decorative items, clothes,and gifts nike air max 2019 free shipping nz , as well as dried and fresh foods, beverages, processed foods and cosmetics.
Meanwhile, Lotte Mart launched a Christmas promotion with discounts on decorative and fashion items and cakes besides gifts from the beginning of December through Dec. 18.
Another shop owner on Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street told Xinhua that this year, the proportion of made-in-Vietnam items for Christmas decorations has increased remarkably over previous years. "About 80 percent of Christmas decoration items are locally made and sales are running well due to their eye-catching, good quality, designs, and reasonable prices,"he said.
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ which is observed generally on Dec. 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world.
In Vietnam, it is not a national holiday, however nike air max 2019 sale nz , there are more people, especially young people, who eagerly join in the Christmas celebration.
A young couple, Linh Nguyen and Hong Ngoc, both 25, are busy buying decorative items for the Christmas trees in their office. They are working for a private media company at District 1. "Over the last five years, we are always entrusted by our boss to decorate the Christmas tree placed at the company's entrance, and gift boxes for everyone. It costs around 1 million VND (50 U.S. dollars)for the tree and its decorations, and 20 gift boxes, each worth 500,000 VND (25 U.S. dollars) nike air max 2019 online nz , for the office members," Linh said,adding that Christmas, New Year and the traditional lunar New Year are now equally celebrated by his office mates. "This is a way that our boss wants to award us after a long year of hard work, and also a time for all of us in the company to enjoy time together,"said Ngoc, adding that those celebrations to her are more valuable than a cash bonus from her employer.
Meanwhile, 32-year-old Thanh Tu, who is working for a foreign embassy in Vietnam, has a long holiday stretching from Christmas( Dec. 25) until New Year (Jan. 1), the same as her foreign office mates.