With the prolonged heatwave, products labeled as 'air conditioners' are selling well.

During the hot summer days, at mat shops on Le Huan Street (Hong Son Ward, Vinh City), in addition to the usual rush mats, plastic mats, and bamboo mats, a variety of mats are sold, advertised as "air-conditioning mats." According to Ms. Hong Huy, the owner of a mat dealership on Le Huan Street, they are called "air-conditioning mats" because they have a much better cooling ability than ordinary mats such as rush mats and bamboo mats.

"These mats are made from natural materials such as rattan, bamboo, crushed oak wood, or Tencel fibers, which absorb sweat, are breathable, don't cause stuffiness, and especially cool the surface quickly, retaining coolness longer when using air conditioning compared to other materials. Therefore, during the hot season, these cooling mats sell very well, with consumption increasing 2-3 times compared to before," Ms. Hong said.

According to surveys, there are many types of cooling mats on the market, but they mainly fall into two categories: budget-friendly mats priced from 150,000 VND to 400,000 VND and high-end mats priced from 800,000 VND to 1,000,000 VND. Classified by material, there are: cooling mats made of natural latex, cooling mats made of silk, cooling mats made of rattan, bamboo mats, etc., originating from China, Japan, and Vietnam, with Chinese products being the most dominant.

“Chinese cooling mats have attractive designs and lower prices, so they are chosen more often by consumers. Compared to previous years, this year, the price of bamboo mats from Cao Bang has increased by 5%, while other cooling mats have increased by 10%. Japanese rattan mats, which are new to the market this year, are more expensive than similar items (ranging from 800,000 to 850,000 VND per mat),” said Ms. Bé Khánh, the owner of a mat shop at Vinh Train Station Market.

However, many shop owners, especially online retailers, have exaggerated the benefits of these cooling mats, claiming they provide a "cooling effect like an air conditioner" and "natural cooling without electricity," misleading consumers into buying them at high prices. Having young children at home during the hot summer months, after researching online and receiving advice from sellers, Ms. Vo Thi Quyen (Hung Loc, Vinh City) decided to spend 1.6 million VND to buy two cooling mats supposedly from Japan.

Ms. Quyen said: "This mat only helps to cool the body when used in an air-conditioned room. When lying in an air-conditioned room, this mat will help retain heat and provide some cooling, but not too cold on the back. However, if you lie in a room without air conditioning, this mat is almost ineffective, no different from a regular straw mat."

In addition, cooling jackets are also selling well during the current hot weather. With their cooling properties, each cooling jacket costs 7-8 times more than a regular sun protection jacket. The market currently offers many types of cooling jackets, including those made in Vietnam and imported from Japan and China. Prices vary. Those from Japan are the most expensive, costing up to 1.6-1.8 million VND per jacket, while those from China cost only 800,000 VND per jacket.

According to many users, this type of jacket does provide a more comfortable feeling when working outdoors in the sun. However, most cooling jackets on the market have not been inspected for safety by any regulatory agency.

According to recommendations, these items are only intended to help cool you down on hot days. Before purchasing, consumers should carefully research the product, including the manufacturer, quality, price, and supplier. Avoid choosing products advertised on social media with unclear origins or poor quality, as these may affect the health of users.