Ho Chi Minh City's supermarkets, restaurants and cafes are seeking ways to attract customers as the 2010 World Cup season opens.

Restaurants getting a 'World Cup' facelift

A newly-remodeled cafe looking nice and tidy

To prepare for this event, which takes place just once every four years, many restaurant owners have invested a considerable sum into renovating and redecorating. For instance, the addition of a large flat-screen LCD TV was a task at the top of nearly everyone's list.

"I just bought this TV for 19.9 million VND (1000 USD). That's a million dong more than it cost last month, but we just couldn't do without it. The World Cup season is almost here and we want to draw as many customers as we can," said Ho Van Thanh, owner of a cafe on Cach Mang Thang 8 (District No. 3), pointing excitedly at a new 40 inch LCD TV.

At this cafe, tables and chairs have been rearranged into rows facing the newly-added screen. "For this special occasion, we've also decided to cater in food for customers who come to watch the football matches at our cafe," added Thanh.

TVs can be seen hanging on the walls of restaurants and cafes everywhere, the most visible being concentrated in the food and entertainment spots along Phan Xich Long Road (Phu Nhuan District), A4 Road, Nguyen Thai Binh (Tan Binh District), and D2 and D5 Roads (Binh Thanh District). In fact, some places have brought in two or three new TVs to meet the potential demand. Many have revamped their whole look as well, modifying their decorating style and set-up to cater to football fans. One restaurant had a sign posted on its locked outer door: "Temproraily closed for renovation to prepare for the World Cup season."

To further draw customers, many restaurants and cafes are promising to offer discounts throughout the World Cup matches. It appears several establishments are even planning on renting their own generators to keep electricity flowing in the event of a cut in power.

Discount frenzy

LCD TVs remain the most popular choice in electronics

On the occasion of this special event, electronics stores around the city have quickly snatched up the opportunity to promote discount programmes and some are proving hard for the public to resist.

At Thien Hoa electronics store, items such as LCD TVs, air conditioners and refrigerators are discounted up to 50% with additional prize-drawings being offered to lure more business. The store recently launched a free rental service for LCD TVs, a move that has been considered risky by some competitors. Rental of the TVs will include free delivery.

A representative of the Thien Hoa store, however, remarked that the quantity of LCD TVs for rent - currently 1,500 - has still failed to meet customer demands. "We might increase the number of rental TVs to 2,000 - 2,500, and make 40 and 42 inch ones available for rental as well," he added.

At Nguyen Kim electronics superstore, Limousines stand on display, tempting customers to enter their guess as to which team will win the Cup this year and what the scores in the final match will be. Nevertheless, it was reported that customers are coming to the store primarily to buy discounted electronics; not many are pulled in by the idea of owning a Limo.

"I just want an LCD TV to watch the football matches. I don't have much hope of winning a Limousine," commented one customer from Ky Con Road (District No.1), adding "One thing is strange, though - the TVs here were said to be on sale, but as I check around, some of the discounted prices are actually higher than at places that aren't advertising any kind of discount!"

Customers going shopping during the World Cup are likely to find many free gifts and promotional sales for products ranging from shampoos and facial cleansers to sporting goods - particularly football jerseys from the teams competing in this year's Cup.