HCM City (VNA) – A surfeit of traditional Vietnamese goods can now be found abroad, resulting in fewer purchases made by Viet Kieu (overseas Vietnamese) when they visit the country.
Hoang Yen Linh, owner of a handicraft shop at Binh Tay market, said the number of purchases by overseas Vietnamese has dropped and many travellers now prefer cheaper, easy-to-carry items.
Locally made products are now often exported and sold wherever the Vietnamese community live worldwide, Dang Hong Ngoc, a lacquer ware shop owner at An Dong market, said, so overseas Vietnamese no longer need to buy dried fish and shrimp, lacquer ware or furniture in Viet Nam to take home.
“Previously, I used to hunt for lacquer paintings and fine art items to give to friends and relatives, but not now,” said Le Bao Anh, a Vietnamese-American, whose frequent visits now preclude the need for major new purchases.
Ma Tu Uyen, a Vietnamese-Australian, says she no longer buys kilos of shrimp paste and dried specialities since some products must have clear labels in order to get through customs at airports.
Instead, she buys children’s clothing, fishing nets for her husband, and items such as boxes of cues for her billiard business in Australia .
Consumer goods or fashion items that are cheaper than abroad are now popular purchases among overseas Vietnamese, including small and easy-to-carry items such as hairpins, earings or jewellery, which have become best-sellers.
Tran Ngoc Chau, owner of a shoe stall at Ben Thanh market, said that overseas Vietnamese often bought shoes studded with sparkling crystals and plastic ball for 300,000-500,000 VND (18.8 USD-31.3 USD) each.
The shoes, imported from Singapore of Hong Kong, cost 20-30 percent less than comparable ones at home, so many people buy two or even dozens of pairs.
Pham Van Tan, deputy head of Ben Thanh market management, said older overseas Vietnamese preferred household goods and farm produce while younger ones chose pottery or jewellery made of natural stones and beads.
Ready-made clothes, blankets, drapes and pillows also sell well, according to Tan.
At supermarkets and trade centres, popular choices made by overseas Vietnamese are Japanese made steam-spray irons and hair-styling equipment as well as Thai-made electric rice cookers.-Enditem
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