Hordes of consumers flocked to shopping malls in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday to hunt for Black Friday discounts many stores offered.

Many fashion shops attracted customers with price cuts of up to 80 percent on Black Friday, a massive sales event originating in the U.S., in which retailers offer high discounts on their products. The event this year was due on November 25.

Long lines of people, mainly youngsters, women, and families, stood outside Vincom Center on Dong Khoi Street in District 1 from early Saturday morning, when the center had not opened.

“I have Saturdays off, so I come here early and can seek a parking space,” Nguyen Thi Hoa, an office worker in District 8.

“Last year, I was late and had to leave my vehicle at a roadside parking lot, thus I was anxious and could not shop at ease.

“I intend to spend VND10 million [US$404] this occasion and will shop for Tet [Lunar New Year] as well.”

A bill is nearly a meter long. Photo: Anh T.H. / Tuoi Tre

At stores, even high-end ones, consumers elbowed others out to choose products.

For example, customers thronged a Tommy Hilfiger fashion shop and a Dior perfume store, which offered discounts of up to 80 and 20-30 percent, respectively.

An Ecco shoe shop was also crowded with shoppers as it cut the prices of its new products by 20 percent and those of old ones by over 50 percent.

A GAP clothing store issued a one-meter-long bill totaling nearly VND69.5 million ($2,806) and being reduced to over VND24.5 million ($989). Customers had to wait in long lines to make payments.

“Due to flocks of customers, we have lunch late. Although more employees are added, the number of shoppers is increasing as well,” said H.T., an employee at the GAP clothing shop.

Amid the economic slowdown, Anh Ngoc, a local consumer, intended to come to the Diamond Plaza shopping center on Le Duan Street in District 1 to just have a look at products.

She told herself that she would weigh carefully before buying any product.

“However, after wandering the shopping center, I cannot go straight through stores and return to pick my favorite items as their prices are too good,” Ngoc shared.

“I later use my credit card.”

Congestion was seen on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Loi, and Pasteur Streets in District 1, as consumers flocked to Saigon Center, a large shopping center.

At the shopping center, consumers hunted for discounted items at luxury fashion shops, such as Polo, Boss, and Kenzo.