Slow digitalization of commerce is difficult to speed up

A sales area (on the 3rd floor) of Dong Kinh market no longer has stalls because the vendors have closed down.

Since 2020, the number of customers shopping at traditional markets has decreased sharply due to the trend of online shopping among consumers. Faced with this reality, specialized agencies and related units have stepped up propaganda and encouraged small traders to innovate their business models through digital platforms. However, the lack of initiative from small traders has made the above work ineffective.

Business is gloomy

Bac Son Commune Central Market currently has nearly 150 traders selling household goods, clothing, and food. This used to be a place that attracted shoppers from neighboring communes as well as tourists from all over. However, according to many traders here, since 2020, the number of visitors has decreased sharply. Compared to 2019, the daily revenue of traders at the present time is only 10%.

Mr. Nguyen Van Khanh, who sells fashion clothes on the first floor of Bac Son commune's central market, shared: Before 2019, his family's daily revenue from trading reached more than 1 million VND, and on busy days, it could reach 2-3 million VND. But in recent years, most consumers have chosen to buy clothes online. Therefore, now, I can only sell about 200,000 - 300,000 VND worth of goods per day.

Not only Mr. Khanh, according to the reporter's survey, many small traders at the central market of Bac Son commune are facing difficulties due to sluggish business. In particular, the lack of customers mainly occurs in the household goods and clothing business.

Similarly, at Dong Kinh Market, Dong Kinh Ward, the business situation of small traders is also facing many difficulties. According to a reporter's survey on the 3rd floor of Dong Kinh Market, many stalls have closed due to lack of customers. According to statistics from the Market Management Board, compared to the time before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of small traders at the market has closed up to 50% (nearly 100 households).

Ms. Vu Cam Thuy, a clothing retailer here, said: About 5 years ago, I rented 8 stalls to do business. On busy days, revenue could reach 4-5 million VND. However, now, most customers buy online through channels such as Shopee and Tiktok Shop, making business here very sluggish. Sometimes, it is normal to not be able to open for more than a week. Therefore, I can only afford to rent 2 stalls in the market.

Lack of initiative in small traders

Through discussions with some traders at local markets such as Dong Kinh, Ky Lua Night Market, and Gieng Vuong Market, we found that one of the main reasons is that traders have not been proactive in changing their business model to online. In the current strong trend of e-commerce development, most traders at traditional markets still stick to the old business model.

Lang Son Market Joint Stock Company invests in installing a livestream sales room for small traders

Ms. Nguyen Thu Phuong, Deputy Director of Lang Son Market Joint Stock Company, said: To support traders in innovating their business activities, the unit has coordinated with the Department of Industry and Trade to disseminate regulations and guide traders in online sales skills. Since June 2024, the unit has invested more than 100 million VND to install a livestream room with modern equipment to support traders. However, even though the unit offers free use of this service, no traders have registered for livestream yet.

According to the leader of Lang Son Market Joint Stock Company, the unit currently manages 3 markets: Dong Kinh Market, Ky Lua Night Market and Chi Lang Market with a total of about 1,000 business households operating. In recent years, the unit has actively encouraged and supported traders to innovate their business model towards online, but people have not been proactive. Although many traders have received support from the company to introduce products and purchasing addresses through the market's fanpages, Tiktok and through digital platforms and e-commerce floors, the interaction with customers is still very slow (over 24 hours). The initial low sales efficiency also makes traders not persistent enough to continue.

Mr. Dao Dinh Tue, a clothing trader at Dong Kinh market, said: I have been supported by the market management board to open an e-commerce sales account and participate in online sales support activities via Facebook and Zalo. However, to be able to develop an online sales channel, it is necessary to prepare a diverse source of goods in large quantities. For example, currently, I only have 2-3 items of each item, but if I want to livestream sales through channels such as Shopee, Tiktok Shop..., I need to prepare hundreds of items, and the cost of preparing the source of goods also makes me hesitate. Besides, I also do not spend much time learning about applying information technology to business.

Enhance the solution

According to the Trade Management Department, Department of Industry and Trade, there are currently 82 markets in the province ranging from type 1 to type 3. In recent years, the provincial professional agencies and management boards at some markets in the area have had solutions to promote e-commerce development to "revive" traditional markets. However, the process has encountered many difficulties.

Ms. Nguyen Hong Linh, Deputy Head of the Trade Management Department, Department of Industry and Trade, said: The unit has coordinated with the management boards of local markets to promote and instruct traders on livestream sales skills, and put products on e-commerce platforms to promote business. However, except for OCOP products and some agricultural products, most of the items sold at the markets do not have a clear origin and lack invoices and documents. Therefore, according to regulations, these items cannot meet the conditions to be put on e-commerce platforms as well as social networking channels. At the same time, in terms of design and price, items at traditional markets are almost not competitive enough with items on e-commerce channels.

Faced with the above reality, the Trade Management Department has advised the Department of Industry and Trade to deploy programs in coordination with relevant departments and branches to deploy programs, projects and models to create a premise for digital transformation in traditional markets such as: 4.0 market model; instructions for livestream sales at Dong Kinh market, Ky Lua night market for small traders. At the same time, to help consumers form the habit of "digital payment", contributing to promoting digital transformation of markets, units have developed a network of 450 ATMs, CDMs, POS machines reasonably distributed at locations near markets, supermarkets, and shopping centers; instructions and support for issuing over 40,000 QR codes to shop owners and business households.

In addition, in mid-August 2025, the Department of Industry and Trade coordinated the implementation of the Digital Transformation Program for Traditional Markets and E-commerce Development. In which, the units directly introduced digital transformation solutions of leading enterprises such as TikTok Shop, Shopee, Zalo, etc. At the same time, they guided small traders to conduct livestream sales sessions on these platforms.

Along with the above solutions, the province has currently developed a network of "community digital technology groups" with more than 1,600 groups and about more than 9,000 members across the province. To promote business development at traditional markets, the Trade Management Department will continue to advise the Department of Industry and Trade to coordinate with units to implement on-site guidance and support activities for small traders at markets applying digital technology.

Ms. Nguyen Thu Phuong, Deputy Director of Lang Son Market Joint Stock Company added: Along with solutions from all levels and sectors, the unit currently has a specific plan to support traditional market traders in developing e-commerce. In the coming time, the unit will continue to promote people to choose products with clear origins. At the same time, mobilize resources to train personnel in e-commerce business skills and select point businesses to directly support sales through digital platforms that many consumers choose.

It can be seen that, in the current strong development trend of e-commerce, innovating business forms towards digital transformation is the leading and urgent solution for small traders to ensure business efficiency and revenue. Therefore, along with support solutions from relevant departments, branches and units, the core factor is still the initiative of small traders and business owners.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/vuc-day-cho-truyen-thong-tieu-thuong-can-chu-dong-5056419.html