Many flower shops along Kim Ma, Buoi and Tran Duy Hung streets in Hanoi have begun to receive orders for this special day. Nguyen Thi Lan, a shopkeeper in Buoi street, said the shop had been receiving orders from early in the week, mainly from companies and agencies, but fewer from individuals. Mrs. Lan added that, due to cold weather and other economic factors, the price of flower has risen slightly by 5-10 percent. 

A flowershop owner in Cau Giay street noted that customers mainly chose roses, orchids and tulips. A single rose costs VND5,000-15,000, while orchids sell for VND50,000-70,000, some of the most sell for as much as VND200,000-300,000. 

She also emphasised that these prices may go even higher o­n March 8.  

Diversified presents and sales promotions

Unlike fresh flowers, the prices of teddy bears, hair-pins and telephone covers don’t change, and some are even enjoying special discounts.

Pham Quang Hung, a shop owner in Xuan Thuy street, Hanoi, said these days, the shop is often crowded with customers and he must recruit more staff to help him sell his goods. 

Mr. Hung said students are key customers, a small teddy bear goes for VND100,000-200,000 and bigger o­nes cost VND400,000-500,000. A frame for a photograph sells for around VND30,000-200,000, but a hair-pin is cheaper at o­nly VND20,000-100,000. 

More suitable for students are cards, which are both inexpensive and have a lot of meaning. The price of a card hovers around VND3,000-7,000 for a small o­ne, VND10,000-20,000  for a medium sized o­ne and VND20,000-40,000 for the largest o­nes. 

Cosmetics, clothes and footwear are also popular, but mainly with people that have a higher income, because they can be quite pricey, from several hundred to over a million VND. 

To attract customers, many shops bring out special offers o­n Mother’s Day such as free gift wrapping and giving cards to customers who buy high value items. Some trading centres and supermarkets offer a series of sales promotions o­n March 8. 

Media Mart will give 8,300 presents to women who buy their goods between 10am and 11.30am o­n March 8. Or women shopping in the Vincom trading centre in Hanoi and buy items worth more than VND1 million, will have the opportunity to take part in a lucky draw for some valuable presents. 

IVY Moda fashion will discount all new summer clothes 20 percent from March 4-8. Kim Dong cultural centre o­n 19 Hang Bai street in Hanoi will hold an art performance and offer gifts to women when they go to cinema o­n Women’s Day.