Traditional Bazaar or Supermarkets: A Probit Analysis of Affluent Consumer Perceptions in Hanoi

This paper sheds light on the preferences and behaviour of Vietnamese consumers in an emerging market economy. We analysed survey data of affluent consumers in Hanoi by using a binary choice Probit model for traditional bazaars versus supermarkets. The purpose of the analysis was to measure the factors which influence decision-making by consumers when selecting particular retail outlets for shopping. Our results show that freshness, price and convenience are important in shaping the choice by consumers for traditional outlets for fresh food, while price played a key role in selecting shopping outlets for processed food and drinks and non-food products. The results provide a basis for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the old and the new retail outlet formats.