The coronavirus pandemic has largely affected shopping habits with safety now taking over as a new criterion over prices, variety, forcing retailers and consumers to adapt to the new reality. In Da Nang, a host of wet markets have gradually reopened, making it more convenient for people. However, a big group of locals still stick to the online market due to its time-saving and safe advantages during the pandemic, especially during days implementing the city’s "Safe adaptation, flexibility, effective control of COVID-19" policy.

A customer is shopping online via Co.opmart Da Nang’s online app. Photo: Mai Hien

Safe and convenient shopping solution

E-commerce has gradually become an "extension arm" of both sellers and purchases with simple clicks on the internet to make as well as processing orders.

Mr Truong Ngoc Xuan, residing in Hoa Minh Ward, Lien Chieu District, used to often go to the Phu Loc wet market in Thanh Khe District to make purchases before COVID-19 pandemic.

However, since 2020, he has gradually shopped online to ensure safety for himself as well as his family members. Currently,  although Da Nang has reopened many wet markets according to the city's regulations, goods supply sources in the market are still limited. Therefore, he chooses to combine online and on-site shopping.

In a similar vein, Ms Pham Thi Le Quyen, residing in Hoa Hiep Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District, has still kept her online shopping habit once every 3 days since the first wave of COVID-19 owing to its safety and convenience. She regularly drafts daily menu, lists ingredients and then makes orders via supermarkets’ hotlines or Zalo app instead of going to the traditional wet markets as before.

Likewise, Mrs Phung Thi Xuan Trang, residing in Binh Thuan Ward, Hai Chau District has recently been acquainted with online shopping via fanpages of convenient supermarkets on Facebook for more than a month.

In spite of the fact that she still keens on choosing tubers, fruits, vegetables, meat and fish by her hands, the online market is fairly convenient for all amid the pandemic.

Diversified buying channels

In addition to receiving orders via hotline, Zalo, big supermarkets in Da Nang like Mega Market, Co.op mart, Big C, also accept online orders through websites or Saigon Co.op app, Go! & Big C app. Just create an account with your phone number to be able to make purchases via apps rapidly and conveniently.

Having noticed people’s increasing demand for online shopping during the pandemic, Tuan Thi Joint Stock Company, An Hai Dong Ward, Son Tra District, released its online supermarket on August 25 to receive orders via hotline, fanpage and website allowed many forms of payment via Momo e-wallet, credit card, pre-order – postpaid, etc. On average, Tuan Thi mart receives 25 orders per day, including 80% of orders placed via its website, 15% via fanpage and 5% through hotline.

According to Mr Truong Anh Tung, CEO of Tuan Thi mart, from September 16, the number of customers buying online at Tuan Thi mart is on a decreasing trend since they want to go out to buy themselves instead of ordering at home after a long distancing period. Moreover, a bunch of checkpoints also affect the delivery time, the quality of goods as well as the progress of returning orders to customers.

Similarly, the Hong Thuy convenience supermarket at 476 Nguyen Luong Bang, Lien Chieu District, also expands shopping channels for customers by accepting online purchases via its fanpage, Zalo or website with many forms of payment such as transfer money to its bank account, VNPAY, etc.

The supermarket receives more than 100 online orders on a daily basis, however, the staff here just can handle 30 to 50 orders due to insufficient manpower amid this tough time and have to serve residential groups’ orders. Apart from that, they also experience countless difficulties such as scarce goods’ supplies, high commodity prices, and difficulties in transportation.

For the time being, customers also have many choices of supermarkets, convenience stores linked with some applications such as ‘Be di cho’( Be- shopping for people) and GrabMart to buy goods and essential items.

Reporting by MAI HIEN- Translating by T.VY