Small businesses reap rewards from Trump-Kim summit

Monday, Feb 25, 2019 16:00

Customers buy t-shirts featuring Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un on Hang Bong Street, Ha Noi. — VNS Photo Phuong Thao

Many businesses in Ha Noi have created unique products related to the upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and leader of the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea Kim Jong Un as a way to attract customers.

From February 22, Hanoi Red Tours Company has launched a promotional programme for tours to the US and Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea (DPRK). Accordingly, customers will receive discounts of VND2-6 million (US$86 to $258) when purchasing tours to these two countries. In addition, customers will get help with visa procedures without financial proof.

The shop on 65 Hang Bong Street has sold 12 times as many t-shirts compared to normal days. — VNS Photo

According to Hanoi Red Tours’ deputy general director, all guests who register for tours will be able to participate in a quiz on the tourism and local customs of the US and DPRK. Customers will be given vouchers worth VND200,000 to VND5 million depending on how many answers they get right. The best contestant will have the chance to receive a free five-day-four-night tour of the DPRK.

At Pizza Home restaurants, from February 22 to 28, some 1,000 free pizzas will be offered to customers named Do Nam Trung – the phonetic transcription of Donald Trump – and customers named Kim Trong An – for Kim Jong Un.

The t-shirts printed with the image of the two leaders together sell better than the shirts with just one. — VNS Photo Doan Tung

Customers called Trung, Kim or An, or with hairstyles like the two leaders, can also get a pizza for free.

Souvenir shops on Hang Gai, Hang Bong and Ma May streets have launched T-shirts with the images of the US President and DPRK leader; as well as the national flags of these two nations.

The International Media Centre is ready for the DPRK-USA Summit. — VNS Photo Doan Tung

The owner of a t-shirt shop at 65 Hang Bong Street, Truong Thanh Duc, told Viet Nam News that he started to sell t-shirts featuring the two political heavyweights on February 20 and has sold 12 times as many t-shirts compared to normal days. The buyers are 60 per cent Vietnamese and 40 per cent foreigners.

The price for one t-shirt is VND100,000 (US$4.3).

“My staff have been working through the nights to produce a large number of t-shirts for this significant occasion. The t-shirts printed with the image of the two leaders together sell better than the shirts with just one,” Duc added.

William Reichert, an American living in Ha Noi, expressed his excitement about the upcoming summit by purchasing a t-shirt with the faces of Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un.

“I bought the shirt to remember this special event. I was surprised by the shop owner’s creativity in making these t-shirts to take advantage of the summit,” Reichert told Viet Nam News. — VNS

Comments (0)

Statistic