As Christmas is around the corner, both small stores and trade centers in Ho Chi Minh City are crowded with customers who buy festive embellishments. 

On Thursday, regardless of rain, many people went out to buy Christmas decorations to embellish their homes.

Many people allowed their children to choose their favorite items.

At a store on Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5, Cao Anh, residing in Tan Phu District, and his wife enthusiastically chose Christmas balls, tinsel, ribbons, and other ornaments.

Cao Anh said his family annually spends about VND2 million (US$80.6) buying Christmas ornaments.

“My family is not Christian but we decorate our house as we hope our two children can enjoy the Christmas atmosphere and have sweet childhood memories," he said.

Meanwhile, Toan, director of an English language center, ordered a two-meter Christmas tree, tinsel, bells, Christmas balls, and other decorations worth a total of VND5 million ($202). 

Toan said these items are enough to decorate classrooms and the reception desk at his center, providing learners and employees with the Christmas vibes.

Tran Thao, the owner of a holiday decoration shop, said that the peak Christmas shopping season has begun.

The store may welcome more customers next week.

Her store serves more than 100 customers a day. Best-sellers are Christmas balls with prices ranging between VND20,000 ($0.8) and VND130,000 ($5.2) each depending on their size and materials; ribbons, bows, and stars worth VND10,000-100,000 ($0.4-4) each; and styrofoam snowman and Santa Claus figurines costing from VND250,000 ($10) to VND10 million ($404) each. 

Artificial Christmas trees, which are priced between VND100,000 ($4) and VND3 million ($121) apiece, are still the most best-selling product.

Despite the high number of buyers, the purchasing power this year is only 80 percent of that last year.

“Last year, the city reopened its economy at Christmas, so people made up for the pandemic period. This year, due to economic difficulties, many families have tightened their budget and reduced shopping,” Thao said.

Besides low-cost products, well-to-do families seek imported Christmas trees worth tens of millions of Vietnamese dong each as well as special ornaments.

Nguyen Thu Hang, the owner of another store on Tran Binh Trong Street in District 5, said that since mid-November, her store has imported Danish Christmas trees which are 1.5-four meters high at VND30-60 million ($1,210-2,419) each.

According to Hang, Danish Christmas trees are embellished with white snowflakes. They are beautiful, durable and fresh for a long time, and have wide canopies. 

In addition, green pine trees also bring good luck. Therefore, many families still buy and display them despite their high prices.

To meet the demand of selective customers, the store also designs and produces embellishments itself, such as Christmas balls and laurel wreaths with many sophisticated details and high-end materials.

“For instance, it takes three months to design and seek materials for and produce a Christmas ball. As they are handmade, the number of the products is limited and their designs are special," Hang noted.

“These products are preferred by many customers, who buy them for decoration as well as giving to others as Christmas gifts."

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