With the market sluggish, how can we 'rescue' the small traders?

Many traditional markets in Ho Chi Minh City are experiencing a decline in customers, causing prolonged hardship and leading to the gradual closure of many businesses. Many believe that attracting customers back to these markets requires multiple solutions from both the government and the traders themselves.

Despite being a large wholesale market primarily selling fashion items, many traders at Tan Binh Market are facing a prolonged period of sluggish sales - Photo: Q. Bao

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade is developing a comprehensive plan to develop the traditional market system, adapting to digital transformation and new consumer demands.

The proposal discusses various solutions ranging from infrastructure and planning to changes in land use...

"My family has been selling at the market for three generations, so I can't bring myself to quit."

Despite being a bustling business located in a prime city location, Ms. Ngo Thi Dong, a small trader at Ba Chieu Market (Ho Chi Minh City), said that business at the market has become increasingly difficult since the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for the fashion sector, which has experienced almost continuous slump, with many stalls going all day without a single customer.

According to Ms. Dong, many small traders are still trying to hold on to the market because it's not just a job, but also a habit, a memory, a family tradition; some families have been selling at the market for three generations.

Similarly, Trinh Thi Huong, a fashion trader at Thu Duc Market (Ho Chi Minh City), said that she goes to the market almost every day just to browse her phone and chat. She added that the market has a diverse range of goods, divided into sections selling food, fashion, cosmetics, household goods, etc., but almost only the food sector is doing reasonably well, while the rest are gradually declining.

"Purchasing power has decreased by 70% compared to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, when I go to the wholesale market to buy new goods, I sell them at almost cost price, but there are hardly any customers, whereas in previous years, everything I imported sold out immediately," Ms. Huong lamented.

Managing a traditional market considered relatively large in Ho Chi Minh City, Ms. Bui Thi Anh Nguyet - representative of the management board of Pham Van Hai Market (Tan Son Hoa Ward) - said that according to the design, the market has 1,698 stalls, but in reality, only over 900 stalls are currently operating, with the rest being used as warehouses or temporarily closed.

According to Ms. Nguyet, the situation of traders ceasing or reducing sales has been going on for many years, but the most significant drop has occurred in the last 2-3 years due to a sharp decline in business. The large number of traders ceasing sales has led to a significant decrease in the market's revenue, making management and repairs more difficult.

"Without fundamental solutions, traders abandoning markets and markets operating at a reduced capacity will become a common occurrence in many traditional markets in the city," Ms. Nguyet commented.

How can we "rescue" the market?

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online today, a representative from Xom Chieu Market (Xom Chieu Ward) stated that many traditional markets are dilapidated, unsightly, and have damaged drainage systems, making people increasingly hesitant to shop there. Furthermore, the proliferation of informal markets and those encroaching on sidewalks since the COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more difficult for traditional markets to operate.

The sluggish sales at traditional markets, especially in the fashion sector, are becoming increasingly serious - Photo: Q. BAO

"The authorities need to consider upgrading the dilapidated market soon and decisively address the rampant spontaneous business activities and encroachment on sidewalks. Businesses in regulated markets pay taxes and fees, while spontaneous markets are almost unregulated and pay no taxes or fees. This is unfair," this person stated.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen, who has been doing business at Binh Tay Market (Binh Tay Ward) for many years, said that although the government has provided training on online sales and livestreaming for traders, the results have not been as effective as expected.

"Training is intermittent, and many vendors are elderly and not tech-savvy, making it difficult to sustain this activity. Furthermore, the space at many stalls is quite small and cramped, making it unsuitable for livestreaming sales," Mr. Quyen explained.

According to Mr. Quyen, the State needs long-term policies and appropriate solutions to support small traders selling online. In addition, dissolving inefficient markets to reallocate resources to more effective ones is also necessary and should be done soon.

Ms. Bui Thi Anh Nguyet suggested that, in addition to infrastructure policies and changes to the functions of markets, the State needs to review its control over the activities of e-commerce platforms and online businesses.

"E-commerce is booming, and many goods sold through this channel are surprisingly cheap, making it impossible for traditional market vendors to compete. Even selling below cost is a losing proposition."

"I'm not sure what the current tax and fee policies applied to this business channel are, and whether they are fair to other business sectors," Ms. Nguyet questioned.

Meanwhile, a representative from a market management board in Ho Chi Minh City said that the government has discussed developing traditional markets in conjunction with experiential activities and tourism , but to implement this solution effectively, clear policies are needed to support traders in preserving their trades, transitioning to other professions, supporting market management, and connecting with tourist sources.

Priority has not been given to allocating funds for the construction and upgrading of markets.

According to a representative of a market management board in Ho Chi Minh City, Decree No. 60/2024/ND-CP, which allows localities to invest in market construction using public funds (public investment) for all market categories 1, 2, 3… is one of the notable new points regarding market development and management, helping to remove "bottlenecks" in market investment and development – ​​this is a favorable point.

However, the prioritization of funding for the construction, upgrading, and repair of traditional markets in some localities has not met expectations.

Together we contribute ideas for the development of industry and trade in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Tuoi Tre newspaper, in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, is holding a forum titled "Proposing Ideas for the Development of Industry and Trade in Ho Chi Minh City". The forum aims to gather ideas and solutions from businesses, researchers, and citizens to build and develop industry and trade for the new Ho Chi Minh City, creating a strong industrial, commercial, and service-oriented urban center with international competitiveness.

Mr. Bui Ta Hoang Vu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, stated that he will respectfully listen to every suggestion from citizens and businesses in order to advise the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee on breakthrough solutions for the development of industry, trade, and services.

Readers participating in the forum can submit their comments to the Tuoi Tre newspaper editorial office, 60A Hoang Van Thu Street, Duc Nhuan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, or send their opinions via email: kinhte@tuoitre.com.vn.

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QUANG BAO

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cho-e-cach-nao-de-giai-cuu-tieu-thuong-20250801221633786.htm