"Makeshift markets" and the livelihood challenge for the people.

The small stalls in these makeshift "street markets" are a means of livelihood for many people, but they also pose complex issues regarding public order and traffic safety.

The practice of setting up markets and displaying goods that encroach on traffic lanes still occurs in many places.

Clinging

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ly carries her vegetables to Hong Quang market (Bac Thanh Mien commune) from over 4 a.m. This woman, over 60 years old, doesn't have a fixed stall and can't afford to rent one in the main market. Each selling session at the central market costs tens of thousands of dong just for the stall space, not including other incidental expenses. For a small-scale vendor like her, that amount is almost equal to her entire morning's profit.

She chose to sit huddled by the side of Road 393. On good days, she'd be home by 7 a.m. Her husband died young, her son works far away but his income is unstable, and she currently has to support a young grandchild in the 6th grade. To earn a few tens of thousands of dong each day, she takes advantage of days when there are vegetables in her garden to sell, as she doesn't have anything to sell every day. Recently, heavy rains ruined all her vegetables, so she stayed home because "there's nothing to sell at the market anyway."

The sight of makeshift stalls encroaching on sidewalks has become commonplace on many densely populated streets.

"Sitting on the street is dangerous, but it's better than renting a stall in the market and not having enough money to pay the fees," she said.

Many other small traders also said that they had considered renting kiosks in the market for more stable business, but the cost of rent, electricity and water, inventory, and making ends meet made them hesitant to rent.

These makeshift roadside stalls exist not necessarily for convenience, but because they are almost the least expensive option for street vendors.

The area around the Lai Vu Industrial Park gate (Lai Khe commune) becomes bustling with all kinds of mobile vendors every day after work. Pham Van Tinh's old truck, crammed with watermelons, mangoes, bananas, and other fruits, appears in this area almost daily, right under the "No Market" sign.

Mr. Tinh is from the mountainous province of Lao Cai . Two years ago, his wife fell ill and required long-term treatment, so he borrowed money to buy a used truck to sell fruit on the go. Lacking the capital to open a shop, he chose to sell at the entrance of the industrial park because "there are many people and it's cheaper."

As a regular customer of Mr. Tinh, Ms. Tran Thu Trang, a worker at a company in the Lai Vu Industrial Park, was picking oranges one by one while interjecting, "We finish work around 6 pm, everyone is tired, so we buy them right at the gate to save time and go back to our rented rooms to rest."

During peak hours when there are many buyers and sellers, motorbikes are parked all over the road, and people unexpectedly crossing the street makes it difficult for vehicles to move.

Livelihood and Order

According to Nguyen Manh Dung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cam Giang commune, the locality has recently implemented many drastic measures to restore order in the Vong market area, My Ngoc village, and Dong Giao market area, Dong Giao village - places where market activities and the display of goods frequently encroach on the traffic corridor along National Highway 38.

Through on-site inspections, many households were found to still be setting up stalls and selling goods right at the edge of the road, posing a potential traffic safety hazard, especially during peak hours when there is heavy traffic. The People's Committee of Cam Giang commune has developed a specific plan, organized the painting of lines to define the boundaries of the traffic safety corridor, intensified propaganda, required households to sign commitments, and assigned the commune police and local security forces to regularly patrol and strictly handle cases of repeated violations.

Similarly, Mr. Khong Quoc Toan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Bac Thanh Mien commune, said that along roads 393, 392, and 393C in the area, there are Hoanh Bo, Truong, and Hong Quang markets. However, the situation of people selling goods encroaching on the road and sidewalks at the market entrances still occurs, affecting traffic order and safety. The local authorities have assigned the police force to coordinate with the commune's Economic Department to strengthen propaganda and reminders to prevent spontaneous market gatherings that obstruct traffic, and at the same time resolutely handle cases of deliberate repeated violations.

According to Mr. Pham Hong Thanh, Head of the Economic Department of Lai Khe commune, the local authorities have recently coordinated with the commune's police force to strengthen propaganda and remind those holding markets and trading activities that encroach on the traffic safety corridor along National Highway 5.

In reality, the prolonged presence of roadside markets not only detracts from the aesthetics of the area but also poses numerous traffic accident risks. Local authorities understand that addressing this issue cannot be limited to enforcement or demolition.

"To address the long-term problem of makeshift roadside markets, appropriate planning and arrangement are needed to provide people with stable trading locations, ensuring both their livelihoods and maintaining traffic order and safety," said Mr. Pham Hong Thanh.

In many places, after each crackdown to restore order, small street vendors still reappear along the roadside. To address the root cause of illegal street markets, in addition to resolutely dealing with violations, further solutions are needed to support people's livelihoods and plan suitable market locations.

DO TUAN

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/cho-coc-va-bai-toan-sinh-ke-cho-nguoi-dan-544082.html