Several supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City reported a surge in sales during the National Day holidays thanks to promotion programmes and the start of the city's "Sales Promotion Month."

The Big C chain, which offered discounts of 50 percent on 1,500 products and will continue to offer a 49 percent cut on 4,000 others almost through next month, said the rise in sales was as it had expected.

Duong Thi Quynh Trang, the French supermarket's director of Public Relations and Foreign Affairs, said sales of items with big discounts, such as essential goods, fresh and processed food, household utensils, garments, and cosmetics increased sharply.

Co.opmart, the country's biggest supermarket chain, reported a more than 50 percent jump in sales during the holiday. It is offering discounts of up to 50 percent on more than 2,000 products and this will continue virtually through September.

Vo Hoang Anh, marketing director of Saigon Co.op, said fresh food sales saw the sharpest increase — by 70-80 percent — over normal days.

Other supermarkets like Maximark and Citimart also reported a jump in sales during the holiday.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, director of Maximark Cong Hoa, said revenues were up 20-30 percent, adding customers preferred discounted items.

A fair at the Phu Tho Indoor Stadium in District 11 that kicked off HCM City 's annual sales promotion month in September also attracted many customers with its discounts and freebies.

The fair, which closed on September 4, had more than 400 stalls selling textile and garments, foodstuff, household appliances, consumer goods, and others.

Saigon Co.op has begun a nation-wide promotion programme to popularise Vietnamese goods called Dong Hanh Cung Hang Viet 2013 (Go together with Vietnamese goods).

The highlight will be about 150 mobile sales at discounts and with freebies by the supermarket chain's vehicles in many provinces in all parts of the country such as Vinh Long, Ca Mau, Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Da Nang , Quang Tri, Hanoi , and Hai Phong.

The goods that are offered at discounts – of 5-50 percent — include high-quality essential goods, food, garments, and utensils all made domestically.-VNA