HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Black Friday, the biggest retail promotion of the year, isubiquitous in Ho Chi Minh City with most shopping centres and stores offeringdiscounts of up to 90 percent.

In recent years, thisevent has been becoming popular in Vietnam, and this year it seems to havestarted very early with many shops beginning the promotion programme at thebeginning of the month. It refers to the fourth Friday of November.

Walking around the city,it is easy to see boards mentioning discounts in front of stores.

Runway, a famous retailchain that distributes luxury fashion goods in Vietnam, announced Black Fridaysales at all its stores in HCM City and Hanoi.

This is the biggestpromotion it has ever had, Runway told Vietnam News, adding that itis only for one day, today.

Brands like Balenciaga,Alexander McQueen, Chloe, Emilio Pucci, Erdem, Jil Sander, Marni, Pinko, TaraJarmon, Theory, DVF, Enfold, Helmut Lang and No.21 will be sold atdiscounts.

The biggest shoppingmalls in HCM City’s District 1, Sai Gon Centre and Takashimaya, will offerBlack Friday discounts of up to 50 percent today. Their fan pages also mentiongifts for lucky customers.

Crescent Mall inDistrict 7 has its own unique way of celebrating Black Friday: sales at night.

In recent years, onBlack Friday occasions, all shops in this shopping mall remain open untilmidnight and offer many attractive promotions.

This year, Crescent Mallwill have Black Friday sales on November 29 and 30 nights, from 10pm tomidnight, with discounts of up to 50 percent. There will also be lucky drawsworth totally 2 billion VND.

Thanks to the growth ofthe internet and social media, busy people too can shop on Black Friday even ifthey do not have time to go out.

Just log into Facebookand it is easy to find many attractive deals.

Most shops sellingfashion products, decorative items, cosmetics, and even food are offeringdiscounts and delivery services so that customers can enjoy Black Fridaywithout having to go out. 

Some sellers even helpcustomers order products from foreign countries at discounts.

A trader told VietnamNews that he offers customers the service of ordering on foreignwebsites. 

“I am busy with so manyorders as foreign websites started their sales nearly a week ago. The busiestdays are yesterday [November 28] and today when it is actually Black Friday.”

A District 7 resident,who wants to be anonymous, told Vietnam News: “I have saved formonths for the biggest promotion day of the year. Now it is time to spend. Ihave bought many things online and will continue to buy this weekend.”

Advertising platformCriteo said of all the sales events at the year-end, Black Friday sees thehighest surge.

Last year, it saw sales andtraffic increase by 149 percent and 61 percent, respectively.

The trend would continuethis year, it predicted./.