In recent years, Da Nang’s menfolk have shown an increasing concern to make sure that they have presented their beloved women with a gift on International Women’s Day (8 March).

As a result, many of the city’s retailers, shops and companies have launched big discounts, bonus gift programmes, and attractive events in order to stimulate sales in the days leading up to this day.

The Coop.Mart supermarket is offering a 50% discount on more than 830 of its items from now until 9 March.  In addition, the supermarket is spending over 1 billion VND to launch a programme entitled “Encouraging Men to Go Shopping”.  The aim is to strengthen the sentimental ties between family members, as well as to encourage local men to take even more care of their wives and share the housework with them.

Cosmetics shopping at a local supermarket

As part of BigC Mall’s “Honouring Vietnamese Beauty” programme, a contest entitled “Looking for Talent BigC Kool Idol” is being organised for customers aged between 16 and 35.  The event will run until 31 March.  With each bill of over 100,000 VND, including purchases of such beauty care items as Unilever’s top brands like Dove, Close-up, Sunsilk, Clear, and Pond's, customers have the opportunity to enter the contest and win many valuable prizes.  Contestants have to live record a song in the supermarket’s travelling recording studio.

As this year’s International Women’s Day falls at a weekend, many local travel agencies have taken the opportunity to stimulate travel demand by launching various attractive short and long-stay tours for their customers.  For example, Saigontourist will give a lovely handbag and offer an 8% discount to female customers who book domestic tours for 7 - 9 March.

Men might also choose expensive luxurious gifts, like gold-plated roses and mobile phones, for their beloved women.  Their price is mainly dependant on the type of mobile phone, and the karat of the gold.  For example, an 18K gold-plated cover for an iPhone 5S is priced at around 2 million, whilst a 26-28cm rose plated with 24K gold is being sold for 3 million VND.

Alternatively, buyers can select many lovely gifts from various online websites.  The price of a Sun Jar container is 280,000 VND, a coloured glass 250,000 VND, a wooden clock 400,000 VND, and an ocean waves projector lamp is 350,000 VND.  Most notably, the bought items will be shipped to their customers.