Small businesses reap rewards from Trump-Kim summit

Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Many businesses in Hanoi have created unique products related to the upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and leader of the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea (DPRK) 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 the DPRK. Accordingly, customers will receive discounts of 2-6 million VND (86 to 258 USD) when purchasing tours to these two countries. In addition, customers will get help with visa procedures without financial proof.

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 the DPRK. Customers will be given vouchers worth 200,000 VND to 5 million VND 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.

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 owner of a T-shirt shop at 65 Hang Bong street, Truong Thanh Duc, said 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 percent Vietnamese and 40 percent foreigners.

“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 Hanoi, 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 Vietnam News.-VNS/VNA