"Struggling" border markets

Some border markets are currently operating inefficiently, are deserted, and their infrastructure is gradually deteriorating. According to local authorities, most of these markets lack the potential for restoration investment.

Hiep Binh Market, Hoa Thanh commune, Chau Thanh district.

Ineffective, do not continue investing.

Hiep Binh Market (Hiep Binh Hamlet, Hoa Thanh Commune, Chau Thanh District) was established around 1999 and was built quite systematically and on a large scale. Its main structure consists of a sturdy covered market building in the center, alongside rows of kiosks to serve the business and temporary accommodation needs of traders.

However, observations on August 3, 2023, showed that Hiep Binh Market only had a few informal businesses remaining, with small grocery stores lining both sides of the road in front of the market. In the central area of the market, only one vendor had set up a stall right at the main entrance of the market building, complete with a living space inside.

The infrastructure of Hiep Binh market is deteriorating, overgrown with weeds and moss, and littered with trash. The market building is being used for storing firewood, drying clothes, temporary living quarters, chicken coops, and storing daily necessities. The adjacent rows of kiosks are in a similar condition, most of them closed.

Mr. Phung The Huong, a resident near Hiep Binh market, said that in the first six years after the market was established, trade between Vietnamese and Cambodian people was very bustling. At that time, all the stalls were occupied, and people were busy buying and selling goods, making the market lively all day long. Later, especially since the roads on the Cambodian side deteriorated (the main road leading to the market), trade gradually decreased and became deserted as it is today.

Ms. Tran Tuyet Hong, formerly a small trader at Hiep Binh Market and now residing in a kiosk there, suggested that the local authorities should organize cleaning and sanitation of the market; and at the same time, remind residents living in the market and surrounding areas to raise their awareness of environmental protection. Although the market is not operating efficiently, it is still considered a "highlight" of the border residential area and needs to be kept clean.

Current condition inside Hiep Binh market building.

Regarding the proposed upgrades and repairs to the facilities of Hiep Binh Market to encourage people to return to their previous business activities, Mr. Nguyen Van Hat, Chairman of the Hoa Thanh Commune People's Committee, stated that this is not feasible and further investment would risk waste.

According to Mr. Hat, there is currently no prospect of restoring the bustling trading activity at Hiep Binh Market as it was when it was first established. Besides the reason that the roads on the Cambodian side are deteriorating, making Cambodian people hesitant to visit Hiep Binh Market; on the other hand, since the establishment of the main Phuoc Tan border gate, goods transport across the border must follow official channels, resulting in a significant decrease in the number of people and vehicles passing through Hiep Binh Market.

Hiep Binh hamlet currently has only about 130 households with over 500 residents, scattered across a wide area. Therefore, in the coming time, the People's Committee of the commune will only organize people to clean up and handle environmental sanitation at the market; at the same time, it will conduct propaganda to raise people's awareness of protecting a green, clean, and beautiful environment in this border market area.

Long Phuoc Market (Phuoc Trung Hamlet, Long Phuoc Commune, Ben Cau District), also a border market, has long ceased operations. According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, the market was built in 2007. However, due to the low population density in the area where the market was established (currently there are about 550 households with over 2,000 people, scattered throughout the area), there was little demand for market gatherings, so the market only lasted about two months before being abandoned.

After a long period of ineffective market operation, the People's Committee of Long Phuoc commune reported the situation to higher authorities. In 2015, Long Phuoc commune was recognized as a new rural commune, skipping the market criterion due to the aforementioned circumstances. Currently, residents of Long Phuoc commune who need to go to the market go to local grocery stores, the makeshift market at Long Giang intersection, Long Thuan commune market, and Ben Cau town market.

Mr. Binh also stated that, given the situation of Long Phuoc market being abandoned for many years, in order to avoid wasting public land, in 2017, the People's Committee of the commune signed a contract with Phuoc Dien Cooperative to rent the land for use as a warehouse for agricultural machinery, tools, and fertilizers. This was also to prevent people from keeping buffaloes and cows at the market, causing environmental pollution; and at the same time, to allow the lessee to look after and maintain the market's infrastructure if any damage occurs. Regarding reinvestment in upgrading and repairing the market, and encouraging people to return to Long Phuoc market for trading activities, this is not feasible.

It should be restored.

Another border market has completely ceased trading activities for many years: the market in the Chang Riec residential area (Tan Khai hamlet, Tan Lap commune, Tan Bien district). Mr. Dao Van Sot, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Tan Lap commune, said that the Chang Riec residential area was established in 2012, and its infrastructure, including the market, has been basically completed.

After the market was built, the local authorities organized the relocation of small traders to conduct business there. However, after a while, the market ceased operation because at that time, the population was not concentrated in the area, so there was little demand for goods. Some households in the residential area opened small grocery stores to serve the small-scale consumption needs of the local people. In addition, a few kilometers away, at the Chang Riệc intersection, some people organized informal trading activities, so few people gathered at the market. Gradually, the market became deserted and dilapidated, and the market building was used to store agricultural supplies.

The market in the Chàng Riệc residential area (Tân Khai hamlet, Tân Lập commune, Tân Biên district) is deserted and has become a storage facility for agricultural supplies.

Mr. Sớt stated that recently, through interactions with constituents, some residents have petitioned the government to reorganize the market in the Chàng Riệc residential area to restore commercial activities, as the area is now densely populated and the need for a market is essential. The Tân Lập Commune People's Committee has decided to continue maintaining and developing this market, contributing to creating more jobs and income for local people.

Mr. Ngo Minh Tung, head of Tan Khai hamlet, supports the policy of maintaining the market in the Chang Riec residential area. Currently, residents mainly buy goods and necessities from small, independent grocery stores. According to Mr. Tung, some residents who want to return to the market to trade have suggested designing additional stalls, kiosks, parking areas, and goods collection areas to suit their trading needs.

"In my opinion, if the market in the Chang Riệc residential area is restarted in a more systematic way, it is very likely that this market will become bustling again, because the permanent residents concentrated in Tan Khai hamlet currently number about 1,500 people, and if temporary residents are included, it is more than 2,000 people, so the demand for a market is very promising," Mr. Tung commented.

Regarding the plan to restore the market, Mr. Dao Van Sot said that, for the time being, they will continue to widely publicize the plan to encourage people who wish to do business at the market to register. Recently, some people have registered to trade at the market, but the number is not yet large enough, so the commune has not been able to allocate space. Once the number of registered people is sufficient, the commune will reorganize the market layout, and if necessary, invest in building more sturdy kiosks and stalls to facilitate business for traders and allow shoppers to comfortably choose goods. The commune will create the most favorable conditions regarding space, related fees, and ensure security and order so that people and traders can confidently conduct business at the Chang Riec residential area market.

Quoc Son - Dai Duong

Source