Many shopping malls in Hanoi have been packed during the National Day (September 2) celebration.

With many residents choosing to stay in the city rather than travel or visit their hometowns, a mall in Tay Ho District saw its ground-level parking spaces fill up by early afternoon on Sunday, the second day of the holiday.

As the crowd continued to grow, security personnel redirected arriving shoppers to park in the basement.

The food and beverage area and the cinema were particularly crowded, with customers waiting at the ticket counter for 25-30 minutes on average to purchase tickets or pick up online reservations, along with snacks and drinks.

“It’s a bit of a wait, but it’s better than dealing with the city traffic,” said Minh Chau from Chuong My District, Hanoi.

Lac Long Quan Street outside the mall experienced unusual traffic congestion due to the influx of visitors, and police were deployed to manage traffic and prevent vehicles from stopping too long for drop-offs and pickups.

Similarly, a major shopping mall in Long Bien District was fully occupied from the afternoon into the evening on Sunday.

Inside, the dining and shopping areas were crammed with thousands of people.

Pham Quoc Nghia, a local resident, mentioned he chose to stay in the capital city this holiday, opting for shopping and home cooking.

“Airfares are too high this year, so staying home and shopping are more practical and enjoyable," Nghia said. 

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