With the economy in slow growth mode, people these days have been rushing to supermarkets and commercial centers only for sightseeing and fun rather than to make real purchases, a common situation in Vietnam’s biggest cities including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Can Tho.

Many local residents jammed the front gate of Now Zone Commercial Centers in HCMC’s District 5, and the guards on the first floor were sweating over restless kids brought along with their parents, fearing that they could make piled stacks of goods fall down.

Chasing his 5-year-old boy running near a Korean stalls selling clothes, Nguyen Quang Vinh, an accountant in District 5, said he and his wife brought their child to the place to see the beautiful decorations on the street. But as the outdoor atmosphere became hot, they got into the center for the air-conditioned coolness.

Looking around the first floor, it was easy to recognize most of the customers were children.

Lan, a salesperson, said more guests made her tired of watching over the goods in her stall, as the guests often came there with their children, and their main purpose was not purchasing but taking their children for a jolly ride around.

The same situation happened at other places in HCMC.

Nguyen Thi Ai Ha, clerk to the Geox at Parkson Trade Center on Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1, said though the place was crowded lately, most customers called at the booth only to try on many clothing styles and sizes, and then left without buying.

My monthly salary could only afford a pair of discounted shoes here. I received over VND1 million bonus for the Tet (Lunar New Year) last year. But with such poor sales, my bonus may be lowered this year, she complained.

In the capital city of Hanoi, the central city of Da Nang, and the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, the situation was nearly the same.

Nguyen Thi Nga, an office worker in Hanoi, went to Hang Ma Street last weekend for Christmas ornaments for the family. To her surprise, she did not have to elbow through the crowd for a place on the street as she did last year.

"Going shopping like this is enjoyable because it is not hard to find a parking place," Nga said.

A grocery storekeeper told Tuoi Tre that the daily sales this Christmas season fell by 33-50 percent compared to last year’s.

The stores selling Christmas decorations on the streets of Hung Vuong, Le Duan, and Ly Thai To in Da Nang City also suffered poor sales.

My Ngoc, a shop owner at 47 Hung Vuong Street, said: "Compared to this time last year, the purchasing power this year is far behind. Items such as pine trees, decorative bells, and clothing have prices unchanged but do not attract buyers. This year my store sold only a few clothes and masks to loyal customers.”

At Big C Da Nang, all celebrating Christmas items are 50 percent off, but according to Phan Thi Tuyet Nhung, the manager of Christmas items at Big C, "this year consumers focus only on buying essential items such as Christmas cake box, greeting card, and masks but not decorations as they did in the past."

In Can Tho City, most buyers concentrated on food and consumer goods.

Major shopping centers in the city of Can Tho, though having offered many promotions, saw the number of customers buying goods for Christmas and New Year unchanged from that of last year.

Duong Thi Nam, director of Co-op Mart Can Tho supermarket, said most customers buy fresh items to serve their daily meals and necessities for the upcoming Tet holiday.

Similarly, at the Big C supermarket, the number of buyers was relatively large, but concentrating in the dining and family utensil booths.