On the evening of October 21, VietNamNet reporters observed large crowds at Bach Hoa Xanh and WinMart stores on Au Co Street (Lien Chieu Ward) and Pham Nhu Xuong Street (Hoa Khanh Ward, Danang City), where customer traffic surged dramatically.

Just after work hours, hundreds of locals wearing raincoats and helmets rushed to grocery stores to purchase essential goods including dried food, fresh produce, and basic necessities in anticipation of Typhoon No. 12 - Fengshen.

Shoppers aimed to secure enough supplies for three to five days in case of power outages, flooding, or disrupted transportation once the storm hits.

Leafy greens were among the most sought-after items. In addition to vegetables, meat, eggs, instant noodles, ready-to-eat meals, bottled water, and dry provisions also saw soaring demand.

At several Bach Hoa Xanh locations, shelves holding vegetables, meat, fish, and frozen goods were nearly empty, with only a few scattered items left. Staff had to work continuously to restock and assist customers at checkout.

Similar scenes unfolded at WinMart stores in the area, where long queues formed at the registers. Shoppers filled their carts with noodles, milk, bottled drinks, snacks, and canned goods.

Luu Van Hung, manager of Bach Hoa Xanh in the Hoa Khanh area, reported that daily customer volume had doubled, with fresh produce being the first to sell out.

Not only supermarkets but also traditional wet markets like Hoa Khanh and Thanh Vinh were packed. Many vegetable stalls sold out early in the evening.

Earlier the same day, in an emergency directive on responding to Typhoon No. 12 and anticipated heavy rainfall, the Danang People’s Committee ordered all local authorities to complete the evacuation of residents from high-risk areas before 5:00 p.m. on October 22.

The city emphasized the need to ensure adequate food and essential supplies so that no one would face hunger or hardship during the storm. Authorities also encouraged residents to store food for at least three days.

Truong Anh Duc, a student at Danang University of Science and Technology, shared that he proactively stocked up on supplies for three days due to concerns that the storm could hinder travel and shopping.

“I was surprised to see vegetable and meat shelves nearly empty as soon as I entered the store,” Duc said. “This time of day is usually quiet, and the shelves are fully stocked, but today everyone rushed to buy early to prepare for the typhoon, so goods sold out quickly.”

At local markets, crowds surged as well, with long lines at produce stands.