According to forecasts by the Hanoi Department of Trade, consumer demand in Hanoi during the Lunar New Year (Tết) month is expected to increase by 30% compared to other months. On average, Hanoi consumes goods worth VND 6,000 billion per month, including 50,000 tons of food and 6,500 tons of live pigs. However, during Tết, demand for pork could rise to 9,000 - 10,000 tons, and for beef and buffalo meat to around 1,800 - 2,000 tons.

As a result, over a month in advance, businesses have been actively preparing to ensure adequate supplies for the holiday. The Northern Food Corporation has prepared 177,000 tons of rice and wheat flour. The Trade Corporation and its subsidiaries have stockpiled 240 tons of various meats, 800 tons of processed foods, 100 tons of vegetables, 200 tons of confectionery, 600 tons of cooking oil, 65 tons of monosodium glutamate, and 160 tons of sugar.

Meanwhile, major supermarkets such as Metro, BigC, Intimex, and Fivimart have stocked up on essential goods with a total inventory value of approximately VND 400 billion, representing an increase of over 20% compared to the same period in 2006.

In Ho Chi Minh City, consumer demand is expected to rise by 20% compared to last year. The Saigon Trade Corporation plans to stock 7,000 tons of pork, 540 tons of beef, 3,540 tons of processed foods, and 1,700 tons of seafood. The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Cooperatives anticipates a 50% increase in Tết sales compared to the same period last year, reaching about VND 750 billion. It has prepared 660 tons of rice, 1,260 tons of processed foods, 230 tons of seafood, 700 tons of fruits and vegetables, and 920 tons of sugar.

The Southern Food Corporation has stored 750 tons of premium rice and about 3,600 tons of other food items such as noodles, vermicelli, and rice paper.

In major cities like Hai Phong and Can Tho, goods consumption is expected to rise by 20% compared to the previous year. Hai Phong City has prepared 14,000 tons of various rice types; 2,600 tons of pork, beef, and chicken; 2,400 tons of fish and seafood; 13,000 tons of fruits and vegetables; 6.5 million liters of beer and soft drinks; and 12,000 tons of confectionery to meet increased Tết demand.

In the context of rising prices and strong holiday demand, price hikes appear inevitable. Prices are expected to rise by at least 10-15%. Tết goods have already begun entering the market, with prices typically 10-20% higher than usual. Beverages, processed and frozen foods, and confectionery are among the items seeing the sharpest increases.