In just a short time, like a wave, hundreds, thousands of small traders simultaneously closed their stores, temporarily halted all trading and business activities. This is an "unprecedented" situation that has been and is taking place in many localities across the country.
“Unprecedented” scene
If anyone has ever passed through the center of Tho Tang town (Vinh Tuong district, Vinh Phuc province), they will see that the trade here is the busiest and most bustling in the Northern region. According to statistics, Tho Tang currently has about 3,000 individual business households and nearly 300 enterprises, trading and doing business, and is also a place to gather, transit, and distribute goods to many localities across the country. In Tho Tang, "everything is available", from agricultural products, food to household goods, cosmetics, industrial machinery, agricultural tools, garments, shoes, construction materials... The businesses operate day and night, bringing in large revenues and profits, but no one could have imagined that one day, thousands of businesses here suddenly closed their stores and stopped all trading activities.
An estimated 70% of kiosks and stalls at Rong Market ( Nam Dinh ) are closed. Photo: DUC THINH |
Talking to us, Ms. Vu Thi Thuy, a small trader in Pho Moi area, Tho Tang town, recalled: “In the last few days of May, all the businesses in this area, including my store, were closed. The bustling streets suddenly became unusually quiet, creating an “unprecedented” scene. The temporary suspension of business not only caused small traders to lose revenue but also caused thousands of hired vendors, porters, delivery people... to lose their jobs.”
According to comrade Nguyen Duc Trung, Head of the Market Management Department of Vinh Phuc province, in response to this situation, the market management force and local authorities have organized working groups to go to each business household to explain policies, mobilize and propagate. Thanks to that, after about 3 days of closure, most of the small traders have returned to normal operations.
Close the door for... peace
In contrast to the early return to normal operations in Tho Tang, in many localities across the country, many small businesses have temporarily suspended operations without knowing the "return date".
At Binh Tay Market (District 6, Ho Chi Minh City), we were informed by the Market Management Board that the number of stalls temporarily suspended in early June 2025 was 474/2,358 (accounting for 20.1%). An Dong Market (District 5, Ho Chi Minh City) is the largest wholesale market for fashion and cosmetics in Ho Chi Minh City. According to statistics from the Market Management Board, up to now, 65/900 households have closed their stalls and returned their business licenses. On June 5, the Ho Chi Minh City Market Management Department and the District 5 Tax Team held a meeting with more than 200 traders at An Dong Market to disseminate and implement new tax regulations and remove arising difficulties and problems. At the meeting, many traders reported difficulties and confusion in proving the origin of goods as well as declaring taxes, declaring taxes via electronic invoices, etc.
Many kiosks at Noong Bua market (Dien Bien) have stopped operating. Photo: HA KHANH |
On June 6, we were present at Ninh Hiep market (Ninh Hiep commune, Gia Lam district, Hanoi) - one of the largest wholesale markets for fabrics and clothes in the North. There was no longer a bustling scene of buyers and sellers, a series of stalls were closed, silent in the dry early summer sun. Some stall owners stayed to watch their goods, sitting huddled on plastic chairs, their eyes absentminded or focused on their phone screens to kill time. In a corner of the market, 3-4 stall owners gathered around a glass of iced tea, chatting about new regulations on taxes and market inspections. One lady laughed and seemed to be crying: "The market has now become more of a place to rest at noon than a place to do business!". Trying to approach and find out what was going on here, the answer we received most from the traders was "close the shop for... peace"...
Not only the small traders but also many people working in transportation, porters, food services..., the entire "ecosystem" around Ninh Hiep market, all were affected. Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, a long-time freight forwarder at the market, shook his head in disappointment: "Before, I couldn't keep up with the work, running more than ten trips a day. Now I sit all day without anyone calling me...".
Like Ninh Hiep market, Rong market (Cua Bac ward, Nam Dinh city) - the busiest wholesale market in Nam Dinh province - has also fallen into a state of desertedness and desolation these days due to the mass closure of small traders. Arriving at the market on the morning of June 7, we were surprised to see that the entire 3-storey market, with 82 kiosks and 1,491 stalls, was closed, but it is estimated that up to 70% of the kiosks and stalls were closed. Ms. Le Thi Huong, 75 years old, representing small traders selling fabrics and clothes at Rong market, said: "I have been doing business here for 29 years but have never witnessed so many small traders closing as these past few days. If the authorities do not soon find a solution, we will probably stop selling and go bankrupt."
Studying the reality in Dien Bien Phu City (Dien Bien Province), we also recorded a similar situation. In many markets, concentrated trading areas such as Noong Bua Market, Central Market 1 or along Vo Nguyen Giap Street, even at Him Lam Plaza Trade Center, many kiosks and stores suddenly closed and stopped operating. Ms. Lo Thi In, a trader at Central Market 1 shared: "The situation of a series of stores and kiosks closing started from June 1. This not only caused damage to traders but also caused public confusion, and at the same time affected the exchange of goods and serving the essential needs of people in the area."
In addition to the above mentioned localities where we conducted field surveys, through research, we learned that the situation of small traders "abandoning the market" also occurs in many other localities, from the North to the South, from the lowlands to the highlands. These include: Dak Lak, Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Son La... This shows that it is necessary to seriously consider, find the root cause of the problem and have solutions to overcome it, so as not to affect production, business activities, people's lives and social stability.
Reporter team
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Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/dieu-tra/hang-loat-tieu-thuong-dong-cua-dung-kinh-doanh-vi-sao-bai-1-lan-song-dong-cua-831883
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