According to VnExpress, numerous large restaurant chains in Hanoi were overwhelmed on Valentine's night, which also marked the 27th day of the Lunar New Year holiday. At Golden Gate's Union Pizza on Hoang Dao Thuy street, all tables were occupied by young couples even before 19h.
A staff member stated that the establishment had no tables available for walk-in customers that day, serving only those who had booked in advance. However, even customers with reservations still had to wait for their turn to be seated.
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The Union Pizza restaurant on Hoang Dao Thuy had no empty seats on the evening of 14/2. *Photo: Trong Hieu*
Many restaurant chains in major shopping malls across the capital also experienced fully booked tables that evening. Around 19h30, the Haidilao hotpot restaurant on the 5th floor of Lotte Mall Tay Ho had issued the 283rd waiting number, while only having seated 150 customers.
The receptionist announced that customers registering for a waiting number at that time could expect to be seated approximately 3 hours later (around 22h30). In front of the restaurant, dozens of customers patiently waited. Haidilao also provided them with drinks, snacks, and some customers utilized the complimentary nail service while waiting.
On the 4th floor of the same mall, almost every eatery, including Gogi, Marukame Udon, Don Chicken, and Dookki, had customers queuing outside.
Minh Thang's family, from Cau Giay ward, arrived at a Japanese restaurant in Lotte Mall Tay Ho at 18h but was informed by staff that there were no empty tables. He then moved to a grill restaurant a few stalls away and waited about 20 minutes to be seated.
Thang said he felt fortunate his family arrived early that evening, as they were still served. He noted that as the evening progressed, the crowds waiting in front of restaurants in the shopping area grew larger.
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Customers queued for their turn in front of restaurants at Lotte Mall Tay Ho at 19h30 on the evening of 14/2. *Photo: Anh Tu*
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Customers queued for their turn in front of restaurants at Lotte Mall Tay Ho at 19h30 on the evening of 14/2. *Photo: Anh Tu*
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Customers queued for their turn in front of restaurants at Lotte Mall Tay Ho at 19h30 on the evening of 14/2. *Photo: Anh Tu*
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Customers queued for their turn in front of restaurants at Lotte Mall Tay Ho at 19h30 on the evening of 14/2. *Photo: Anh Tu*
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Customers queued for their turn in front of restaurants at Lotte Mall Tay Ho at 19h30 on the evening of 14/2. *Photo: Anh Tu*
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Customers queued for their turn in front of restaurants at Lotte Mall Tay Ho at 19h30 on the evening of 14/2. *Photo: Anh Tu*
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Customers queued for their turn in front of restaurants at Lotte Mall Tay Ho at 19h30 on the evening of 14/2. *Photo: Anh Tu*
Similarly, many eateries, especially hotpot and grill restaurants, at Vincom Royal City mall were also packed with customers that evening. According to the manager of a hotpot restaurant there, the establishment served not only couples but also groups of young friends gathering on the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday.
Customers tended to flock to restaurants in shopping malls or large brand chains on Valentine's evening partly because many small eateries and independent businesses had already closed for the Tet holiday. Most restaurant chains had not yet applied a Tet surcharge that day. However, starting tomorrow, some establishments would begin adding surcharges or limit service to higher-priced menus.
Anh Tu - Trong Hieu
