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A rose by any other name: People shop for flowers, which are expected to go up in price for Valentine's Day. — VNA/VNS Photo Anh Tuan  | Love songs: To celebrate this year's Valentine's Day, pop star Duc Tuan will bring his romance-themed Chuyen Tinh Yeu tour to HCM City, Can Tho, Nha Trang and Hue. — File Photo |
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HCM CITY — Businesses are gearing up for Valentine's Day which falls on Monday.
The demand for flowers and gifts to express love will be higher than usual, says the managing director of The Gioi Hoa Tuoi (Flower World), Nguyen Thi Thuy Vu.
"We don't have enough roses to meet demand," Vu said.
The prices of flowers at gardens in Da Lat remain high, with a rose in HCM City selling for VND4,000-6,000, double the usual price. Prices are expected to rise to as high as VND10,000 (US$0.5) for a single rose this weekend.
Meanwhile, shopping centres in HCM City are offering discounts and promotions to take advantage of the holiday buying. Co.op Mart's Qua tang Tinh yeu (Gift of Love) promotion features discounts of up to 40 per cent on chocolates, clothing, stuffed toys and decorative items
Duong Thi Quynh Trang, director of public relations for the French-owned supermarket chain Big C, said its Nhan Doi Hanh phuc (Double Happiness) promotion ran all last week.
Jewellery is a favourite gift during the Valentine's Day holiday, and Phu Nhuan Jewellery Joint Stock Co has launched a collection of gold and silver jewellery featuring new designs for rings and pendants meant for couples. Prices range from VND400,000-500,000 ($20-25).
Romantic books have become increasingly popular with young people every year, and publisher Thoi Dai has issued such titles as Khong Co Gi Ngoai Rac Roi (Nothing but Trouble) by Rachel Gibson, Mong Phu Du (Trading up) by Candace Bushnell, and Cau Hoi Tinh Yeu (A Question of Love) by Isabel Wolff to take advantage of the holidays.
Kim Dong Publishing House has published collections of short stories by young Vietnamese writers like Ho Viet Khue and Minh Nhat, while the Nha Nam Communication and Culture Co has published translations of works by foreign writers such as Guillaume Musso, Yumoto Kazumi and Jane Green.
For those tired of the usual chocolates, flowers and jewellery, the Chuyen Tinh Yeu (Love Story), a pop and dance music tour performed by young star Duc Tuan, will tour HCM City, Can Tho, Da Lat, Nha Trang and Hue.
He will perform dozens of love songs, including Huy Du's Chuyen Tinh Yeu (Love Story), Tran Le Quynh's Tre Mai (Young Forever) and Chan Tinh (Passion) and Pham Dinh Chuong's Don Xuan (Welcome Spring).
A series of musical productions staged and composed by veteran musician Pham Duy will also be part of the show.
An extravaganza show for young couples will be staged in Da Lat on Monday night.
In celebration of Valentine's Day, the HCM City Television's monthly music and song programme, Thay Loi Muon Noi (Speak for Silent Hearts), will be broadcast tomorrow night and feature romantic works.
Young singers, dancers and pop bands such as My Tam, Ha Anh Tuan, Phuong Linh and the band FM will woo the audience with popular love songs in Vietnamese, English and French.
For theatre lovers, actors from the HCM City Small Theatre will stage a comedy written by Nguyen Quoc at 5B Vo Van Tan Street this weekend.
Ly Khac Lynh's Cuc Yeu (Too Much Love) centres on the theme: Is love more important than money?
The play features young performers Hoang Anh and Diem Chau, who will accompany veterans My Uyen and Thanh Hoang.
For Valentine's Day, Cafe Central A Dong Restaurant in HCM City's Windsor Plaza Hotel will serve a Western and Asian buffet dinner, with couples to receive a gift from cupid, according to the hotel's assistant public relations manager Nguyen Ngoc Han.
Dinner and kisses
Couples could also enjoy a multi-course set menu at TOTT Bar and Restaurant on the 25th floor while overlooking the city skyline, Han said.
The Sheraton Sai Gon Hotel, Sofitel Sai Gon Plaza, New World Sai Gon Hotel, Caravelle Hotel and the Park Hyatt all have also announced special dinners. Meanwhile, Espressamente Illy is offering a free tiramisu to customers who spend at least VND200,000 ($10) during February 7-19.
Romantic getaways are also becoming popular with couples.
Saigontourist is offering a three-day stay at Hon Ngoc Viet for VND16.3 million ($810), a three-day Da Lat tour for VND10.15 million ($507) and a four-day Da Lat tour VND6.36 million ($318) per couple.
HCM City-based tour operator Viettravel will also hold its annual underwater wedding for nine couples at the Viet Nam Dive Centre in the coastal resort city of Nha Trang on Valentine's Day.
About 100 couples are expected to compete in a marathon kissing festival in the Kisses' Party at the Viet Tiep Friendship Cultural Palace in the northern city of Hai Phong on Sunday. The 10 longest kisses will receive prizes, including a pair of laptops worth VND15 million.
Contestants must be at least 18 years old, and over 50 couples had already registered, said Do Minh Phuong, director of event organiser Golden Trademark Communication Joint Stock Co.
"The festival is expected to be an unforgettable moment in the lives of the participants," Phuong said. "This is the place where love will be spread and people will express love and a civil lifestyle."
For those who prefer to stay at home for Valentine's Day, television broadcasters have featured love stories throughout the week in the countdown to the holiday.
HCM City Television's HTV 7 has begun airing the 30-episode Goi Nang (Calling for Sunlight) series in time for the holiday. Directed by Tran Canh Don, the series focuses on two foster sisters and two men who battle betrayal, deception and envy before they find true love. It stars singer Maya, actress Trang Nhung and actors Quang Tuan and Gia Huy.
Vinh Long TV, meanwhile, has begun broadcasting the 35-episode series Tinh Nhu Tia Nang (Love Like Sunlight), directed by Truong Dung. The film tells the story of the love between a young woman from a rich family and a young composer who helps her retrieve her inheritance from the clutches of her cruel stepfather. Le Phuong and actor-singer Nguyen Vu play the lead roles.
Trinh Le Phong's 30-episode Dem Nguoc Cho Den Ba Muoi (Countdown to 30) tracks the search for love by three unmarried 30-year-old women who face growing pressures from their families to marry. The series, to begin on VTV1 on Valentine's Day, stars Kieu Oanh, Vi Cam and Chi Trung. — VNS
