Numerous fashion shops in Hanoi are off-loading summer lines in the run-up to autumn.

Customers can expect discounts of between 30 percent to 50 percent at some of the leading outlets in the capital.

Nguyen Huong Lan, a student at Hanoi-based Vietnam National University and a canny shopper, said there were real bargains to be had this year.

"A skirt priced at 210,000 VND (10.88 USD) can be bought for just 80,000 VND (4.14 USD). A pair of jeans can be picked up for 95,000 VND (4.92 USD)," Lan said.

A shoe shop on Cau Giay Street is offering discounts of 30-50 percent. Shoes and sandals retailing for 500,000 VND (25.91USD) can now be picked up for 350,000 VND (18.13 USD), while basement bargains can be had for just 100,000 VND (5.18 USD).

Many designer shops on fashion streets such as Chua Boc, Ton Duc Thang, Pham Ngoc Thach, Kim Ma and Hang Bong are discounting clothes and designer shoes by 30-50 percent.

On Kim Ma street alone, more than 20 shops are discounting summer lines.

"It is not because there is anything wrong with our products that we are reducing our prices," said Le Nhu Quynh, a shop assistant on Hang Bong Street . "It is just we do not want to take up space with summer clothes as winter approaches," Quynh said.

Other shop owners said they were keen to offer discounts at this time of the year because they needed to raise funds to buy autumn and winter collections. "We can't wait until autumn begins to start selling our summer clothes," a shop-owner on Chua Boc said.

Lan said she was happy to buy out-of-season clothes if the discounts were enticing enough.

"I like shopping for clothes out of season as they will be fine to wear when the weather is warm and I can save money," she said./.