Ninh Hiep Market (Gia Lam District, Hanoi) is considered the largest fashion and fabric capital in the North with nearly 4,000 business households. Previously, this area was always bustling with people coming in and out to trade and transport goods, but these days that scene is no longer there.
Since the Lunar New Year, many shops in Ninh Hiep market have closed or closed after a few hours. The main reason is the lack of customers.
With not much work during the day, shop owners and employees often sit and play with their phones, sleep, or hire nail technicians. “Before, my shop was very crowded, I had to take orders for customers every day and I couldn’t keep up. Now, like other women, I can only sit and wait for customers every day. Wholesale and retail orders have decreased a lot,” Ms. Tam (right) confided.
Although it was business hours, there were still many kiosks with one side open and the other closed. "There were no customers and the stall owner didn't sell much so he closed the stall to go out," a neighbor of the stall in the photo told reporters.
“Ninh Hiep market is mainly wholesale, most of the shop owners have regular customers, however this time the wholesale customers are gradually decreasing. Normally they come back once a week to get goods, but this time they may not see them for a month,” said Mr. Thai (shop owner).
Although it was not lunchtime, the atmosphere was gloomy, with vendors and sales people sleeping all over the market.
"A few years ago, business was going well, I rented two kiosks for 30 million/month. But now the business situation is getting more and more difficult, I was forced to transfer it to someone else for 4.5 million/month, accepting the loss. Now, selling 2-3 shirts a day is still lucky. After the Covid-19 pandemic, the whole market is in the same situation," the woman on the right shared.
According to many traders, the goods at Ninh Hiep market are all cheap, besides wholesale, most of the remaining are retail to workers, students and pupils, however now many people have lost their jobs and had their salaries reduced, making business difficult.
Mr. Vu and his girlfriend traveled from Dong Da district to Ninh Hiep market (25km away) to get goods. “The goods here are more diverse than other markets such as Phung Khoang and Nha Xanh, and the prices are also cheaper. This time I found it strange because the market was not as crowded and bustling as before,” he said.
“The whole market is deserted and unsold. Nowadays, people do business online, many warehouse owners even livestream to sell directly, so traditional business like this is quite affected. My store mainly sells to wholesalers, and retailing all day, I might sell 1-2 shirts,” said Ms. Oanh (store owner).
Mr. Vu (a fabric stall owner) also admitted that this time the revenue has decreased by 50% compared to before. "Business is very boring, selling clothes or other items can be combined with online sales, but for fabric, customers have to come and touch it in person. This time the consumption is much slower," he confided.
Near the end of the day, hamlets 6 and 7 of Ninh Hiep market start to have customers, but they are mainly traders looking for samples to import and sell online.