The Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade has directed municipal enterprises to stockpile essential goods totaling VND40.9 trillion ($1.7 billion) in preparation for increased demand during the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, the year’s biggest shopping season.

Main products include 58,500 tons of pork, 292,000 tons of rice, 19,500 tons of poultry, 16,200 tons of beef, 16,260 tons of seafood, 325,500 tons of vegetables, and 1,500 tons of confectionary.

In order to prepare sufficient products to supply during Tet, Hanoi has also organized trade promotion activities to support the consumption of over 500,000 tons of products from other localities.

The capital has signed agreements with 43 cities and provinces to build and develop over 900 supply chains to provide safe agricultural products to its consumers.

A representative from the C.P Vietnam Livestock JSC said it has increased its stockpiling for Tet by 20 per cent. It also plans to supply 4.500 tons of chicken and pork to the northern region during the holiday, with Hanoi receiving 40 per cent.