Heatwave fuels booming cooling market in Ho Chi Minh City

From air-conditioner cleaning services and cooling appliances to beverages and heat-relief consumer products, purchasing activity remains strong.

AC cleaners busy from dawn to dusk

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper’s observation found that AC cleaning and maintenance services for households in Ho Chi Minh City currently cost around VND240,000 to 350,000 (US$9.11 to 13.28) per unit.

If gas refills are needed, customers typically pay an additional VND200,000-350,000 ($7.59 to 13.28) per refill.

Nguyen Quoc Thinh, an air-conditioner maintenance worker in Ho Chi Minh City, says the current peak season leaves almost no days off.

Some days, he leaves home early and works nonstop at around ten houses, servicing more than a dozen air-conditioners.

"Each unit takes 30 minutes to an hour to clean, depending on dust levels, damage, or whether it needs a gas refill," Thinh said.

A representative of home-service platform bTaskee said demand for air-conditioner cleaning services has increased two to threefold over the past three months compared to before the hot season, peaking in late April.

At times, customer demand overwhelmed the platform's capacity.

The company said most users only seek maintenance when their units begin showing signs such as unpleasant odors, water leakage, or poor cooling performance.

As prolonged heat and rising electricity costs continue to concern urban households, demand for air-conditioner cleaning is expected to remain high throughout this summer.

Cooling appliance sales surge

Not only maintenance services but also cooling appliance sales have seen strong growth.

Retail chain Dien May Xanh said sales of cooling products have risen sharply, with air-conditioners leading the market at nearly 150 percent growth year-on-year, while electric fans and air-cooling fans increased around 115 percent.

Pham Quoc Bao Duy, head of electronics at FPT Shop, said sales of cooling appliances have risen by 50 to 100 percent compared to normal months and have doubled from the same period in 2025.

Meanwhile, data from CellphoneS showed fan sales in April rose around 30 percent compared to the previous period, and maintained another 50 percent growth in May.

E-commerce platforms are also seeing a sharp rise in demand for heat-relief products.

According to Lazada Vietnam, purchases have surged in cooling and health-related categories such as inverter air-conditioners, electric fans, sunscreen, UV-protection clothing, ice makers, and thermoses.

Based on consumer data, Lazada forecasts cooling appliance sales will peak in June.

By July, shopping demand is expected to shift toward travel items and swimwear, while August is projected to see stronger demand for health and sun-protection products.

Drink shops and supermarkets get busier during heat spikes

The prolonged heat has also driven up demand for cold drinks.

Tuoi Tre observed constant customer traffic at beverage stalls, roadside drink carts, and tea and smoothie shops in central areas such as Saigon, Tan Dinh, and Gia Dinh Wards, especially around noon and early afternoon.

Meanwhile, at a drink stall on Le Van Luong Street in Tan My Ward, owner Hong said customer numbers have risen noticeably over the past week due to persistent hot weather.

"On normal days we sell around 150 cups, but during peak days sales can exceed 250 cups a day," she said.

According to Hong, popular choices include winter melon herbal tea, cooling herbal drinks, and calamansi tea, with prices starting at VND10,000 ($0.38).

A nearby sugarcane juice vendor said sales have nearly doubled, sometimes forcing extra ingredient purchases.

"It's so hot that people stop as soon as they pass by. Some even buy drinks for their entire office," the vendor said.

An employee at coffee chain H. said app-based delivery orders have risen by around 30 to 40 percent since the heatwave began.

Drinks such as peach orange lemongrass tea, lemon tea, watermelon tea, and iced cold brew are popular among office workers because they are "less heavy and more refreshing."

Supermarket chain Bach Hoa Xanh said cooling-related products have entered a period of double-digit growth due to prolonged hot weather.

Demand is strongest for ready-to-consume or chilled products including ice cream, yogurt, soft drinks, herbal beverages, fresh fruits, and ready-made chilled foods.

To meet rising demand, the retailer said it has increased inventories, restocked more frequently, and launched promotions encouraging bulk purchases for home use during the hot season.

The company has also continued expanding free home-delivery services to help customers shop more conveniently during extreme heat.

Meanwhile, food delivery platform ShopeeFood said it has rolled out several heat-themed promotional campaigns, including discounts on delivery fees, beverages, and snacks, to meet growing demand from customers who prefer ordering in rather than heading out in the scorching heat.