Demand for car beautification has risen in Ho Chi Minh City as many people choose cars as their primary means of transportation to their hometowns during Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), which falls on January 29.

With just about two weeks left before the Tet mass travel, routes such as An Duong Vuong Street in District 5, National Highway 13 in Thu Duc City, and Phan Van Tri Street in Go Vap District are bustling with customers bringing their cars in for refurbishment.

Thanh Long, owner of a shop located at the foot of Binh Trieu Bridge in Thu Duc City, said that in the days leading up to Tet, the number of cars visiting the shop has increased compared to usual, with an average of 30-60 cars per day.

Most customers say that before embarking on long journeys, such as traveling out of town or returning to their hometowns, it is important to check tires, adjust the steering wheel, and consider additional services like applying thermal-insulating film, beautifying the car, and adding accessories.

Nguyen Quang, 40, from Thu Duc City, shared that this year he decided to drive to Da Nang City in central Vietnam instead of flying. 

Besides high airfares, Quang finds it more convenient to drive his family of four by car, allowing them to visit multiple destinations along the way.

Before his trip, he visited a car repair shop for painting, accessory upgrades like installing the car map application Vietmap and a dashcam, costing more than VND8 million (US$315).

“Even though I have to wait in line for a long time, I still want my car to look new and clean for Tet,” Quang said. 

“And for long-distance travel, having a dashcam gives peace of mind, especially for speed and fine warnings.”

Price hike

Records show that car repair service prices have increased 10-20 percent in recent days compared to earlier.

Tran Hien, working at M.T. car care shop in Go Vap District, explained that the price hike is due to the hiring of seasonal workers who are paid 1.5 to two times more than usual.

However, some shops have kept prices steady to maintain regular customers. 

Popular services like ceramic coating cost VND4.5-6.5 million ($177-256), paint surface correction ranges from VND1.7 million ($67) to VND2.5 million ($98), and glass stain removal is priced between VND600,000 ($24) and VND1 million ($39).

Minh Tien, owner of a car tuning shop in Binh Thanh District, noted a significant jump in customers upgrading accessories like subwoofers, head-up displays, and power tailgates. 

These services can cost anywhere from a few million to more than VND10 million ($394).

Car owners are advised to choose reputable garages and clearly communicate the services they require to avoid being overcharged or misled into installing unnecessary accessories.

According to car dealers, to prevent being scammed or receiving non-original parts during maintenance, car owners should clearly outline the services they need in advance.

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