With Vietnamese Women’s Day approaching, the gift market is becoming busy and promises to offer a wide range of gifts and services to satisfy all kinds of tastes.

Supermarkets have launched gift boxes containing shampoos and conditioners, shower gels and others, and launched promotion programmes.

Korean chain Lotte Mart is offering discounts on thousands of items such as cosmetics, skin care, makeup, body care, and clothes at its Beauty Expo themed “Perfect change” being held from October 4 to 21.

Customers can also get free beauty care consultancy, hear beauty bloggers speak and take part in a make-up competition with attractive prizes.

It has launched more than 30 kinds of gift boxes containing lip stick, shampoo, shower gel, and foodstuff.

It expects their sales to increase by 20 per cent during this occasion.

On October 20, it will present small chocolate gift boxes to 13,000 female customers at its 13 stores across the country.

Saigon Co.op is also offering attractive discounts on cosmetics, fashion products, household appliances, and fresh foods at its retail systems such as Co.opmart and Co.opxtra.

On October 20 – which is Vietnamese Women’s Day -- and 21, women customers with Co.opmart membership cards will get double the usual bonus points when shopping at Co.opmart, Co.opXtra, Co.opFood, Co.opSmile, Cheers, and HTVCo.op.

Big C has launched a festival called “Mot ngay tuoi sang” (A brilliant day) at all of its stores nation-wide until October 21.

More than 1,000 products, including skin, hair, body care, makeup, body lotion, cosmetics, health products, and others will have their prices cut by up to 49 per cent.

It has also launched gift boxes with pretty designs at prices ranging from VND58,000 (US$2.5) to VND159,000 and launched exclusive products such as Misoul moisture masks and Meraki shower gel.

On October 20 shoppers buying at least VND339,000 worth of cosmetics will get a gift bag worth VND100,000. The supermarket has stocked 40,000 such gift bags.

Other retailers, fashion and cosmetics shop at many places around the city are also offering attractive discounts on the occasion.

Jewellery companies such as SJC and PNJ have launched new collections and promotions.

From October 12 to 21 PNJ will gift high-quality travel bags to customers with bills of at least VND3 million.

Banks have also announced programmes targeting women customers.

At Viet Capital Bank, for instance, from October 10 to 31 all depositors will get 0.2 per cent extra interest. Women depositing upwards of VND1 million will get a gift of a cosmetic case or neck-pillow.

Flower prices increase

Besides cosmetics and clothes, flowers remain among the most popular gifts for Vietnamese Women’s Day.

Many florists have introduced new bouquets at prices ranging from VND100,000 to over VND1 million.

Shops on Phan Van Han Street in Binh Thanh District and Hai Ba Trung Street in District 1, said they would increase stocks of flowers, especially roses, and hire more people to arrange and deliver flowers to meet the surging demand.

According to sellers, the prices of roses have increased significantly in recent days and are expected to go up further on holiday.

According to media reports, the prices of flowers in Da Lat have shot up by two or three times in recent days, with roses selling at VND3,500-5,000 each.

Flower traders in the city said abnormal weather has hit flower output, pushing prices up. — VNS