Basic HTML Version
timeout
12
get more, pay less
he used to: “I just do the same as today,
which is save some money, then spend
some money on travelling, shopping,
and other things”. Stephan also usually
searches for discount things since this
helps him save more. This year he will
spend more on holidays and may come
back to Asia again.
The expat experience
Michael Pietrzyk, an IT engineer, liv-
ing in Hanoi, told Timeout that he and
his wife spend most of their savings on
travelling and that they are very interest-
ed in discount things. “Now we earn less
so we spend less; we cannot consume
in the same way that we did five years
ago. We search for discounted products
all the time and it is much easier to bar-
gain and get better prices in Hanoi than
Saigon. We think Saigon is more cosmo-
politan, while Hanoi is more Asian.”
Meanwhile, some expats do not
plan to save much. The economic dif-
ficulty does not seem to affect some
of them greatly. David Foreman, an
accountant from England said: “I don’t
have any plan for saving money. This
year I will carry on working, travelling,
and so on. Everything is the same as the
previous year.” What is more, he never
searches for discount products due to a
lack of motivation to do so.
Business tactics
Last year was certainly not favoura-
ble for businesses and the whole picture
remains downbeat because consumers
are not willing to spend. Therefore, in
this New Year period, many kinds of
promotions are used by entertainment
centres, shopping malls, bars and res-
taurants to pep up business.
“We just started our business
around three months ago. Our bar is
new and we have to compete against
many other bars around here, so the
business is not good,” said Vy, who
runs Lindo Beer Garden with Thomas
Cutajar. “Therefore, we designed some
promotions and unique service styles to
attract more guests”.
Their 200 capacity sports bar runs
happy hours six days a week when cock-
tails are discounted 50 per cent. Mean-
while, on Thursdays, Fridays and Sun-
days they have Flight Night when the
waitresses wear flight attendants out-
fits. Live music, free sausage sizzles and
half price wines are also being offered.
“Besides, to celebrate New Year,
we will have Crime Night on Mondays
when the waitresses wear police uni-
forms, plus happy hour will be extend-
ed from 5-12pm,” said Vy.
Meanwhile, Megastar Cineplex
system is offering many privileges for
movie lovers who have its member-
ship card. Tickets prices are usually dis-
counted 10-20 per cent. Megastar also
runs Happy Wednesday, when tickets
are priced from just VN50,000-100,000
($2.4-4.8).
Nowadays it is not difficult to find
promotion and sales panels in shop
windows. The retail market is more ac-
tive than any other period in the year.
Large electronics malls such as Thien
Hoa, Nguyen Kim and Ideas also offer
special discounts for their customers,
with prices discounted up to 50 per
cent at these malls.
Just in time for the start of win-
ter, the Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi has
also launched an exclusive program
called “In-Residence” for its guests.
From arrival to departure guests can
relax, confident in the knowledge that
whether they are travelling on busi-
ness or leisure, the team at the Möv-
enpick Hotel Hanoi will take care of
everything; from unpacking luggage,
internet and local telephone calls to
arranging a massage and everything
else you can consider to truly make
them feel at home. And all of these add
services are free of charges.
“Most hotels make a claim about
being ‘different’ and ‘special’ when talk-
ing about an Executive Lounge experi-
ence but this is integral to the Möven-
pick philosophy and we have attempted
to take this to another level with a truly
everything considered approach,” said
Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi general man-
ager Philip Jones .
“The only commodity our guests
cannot buy is time and we are in the
business of providing good value for
time. They work hard and they want
to know that we are always trying to
anticipate and comply with their needs
and wishes.” Jones continued. “With the
In-Residence program, all they need to
focus on is work or fun and we will take
care of the rest to ensure that they are
able to relax in style and comfort.”
Hopefully, through the efforts of
such companies, consumers’ interest
in shopping will be enhanced and the
market will develop throughout the
New Year ahead.
While some try to seek discounts others are still spending more