HANOI – A growing number of Vietnamese are shopping at convenience stores in lieu of traditional markets or grocery stores, the Thanh Nien Daily reports. “The quality of products here are guaranteed, while their prices are reasonable, not higher than at grocery stores,” said shopper Le Thu Trang. “I no longer buy what I need from grocery stores since convenience stores opened a few years ago.”

More retailers are opening convenience stores, which require less space and stock inexpensive products. Students and women are driving part of the increase in traffic at c-stores. The number of mini-marts and c-stores in Vietnam rose 74% over the past year, according to Kantar Worldpanel.

FamilyMart, a Japanese chain of c-stores, will open 20 stores in Ho Chi Minh City in 2013, with expansion plans into Hanoi in 2014. The capital city boasts more than 150 convenience stores so far. Circle K has been in Vietnam since 2008, and now operates 40 locations.

Local companies have jumped into the game as well, including Saigon Co.op with 62 convenience stores and Satra with 20. Kantar Worldpanel estimates two to three convenience stores are opening monthly in Vietnam.

“In the next 10 years, every urban household is expected to shop from a mini-store, either mini-market or convenience store, at least once a year,” said David Anjoubault, general manager of Kantar Worldpanel Vietnam.