High market fees cause resentment among vendors at Ham Nuoc Market.

The fees for stall rentals, daily market contributions, etc., announced by the Ham Nuoc Market Management Board to traders are many times higher than the previous rates, causing resentment among many traders in recent days.

The fresh food section of Ham Nuoc Market ( Phu Yen Ward).

In recent days, traders at Ham Nuoc Market (Phu Yen Ward) have expressed frustration over the market management board's announcement that market fees, effective from 2026, are excessively high compared to previous years.

Ms. Tran Thi Manh, a small business owner selling household goods at this market, explained: “My stall is about 9 square ^meters . From the time I opened the stall until December 2025, I paid 540,000 VND per year for the space, plus an additional 60,000 VND per month for garbage collection. Recently, Ngan Tin Trading Co., Ltd., the new unit managing the market, announced new fees. For my household, the garbage collection fee is nearly 100,000 VND per month; the space rental fee is also calculated at 43,800 VND/square ^meter /month, which amounts to nearly 5 million VND per year.”

Regarding trading activities at the market, Ms. Tran Thi Manh added: “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, trading activities at Ham Nuoc Market have been difficult, with many traders closing their stalls. After the recent historic flood, the number of buyers continued to decrease, the market became sluggish, and sometimes we couldn't even sell 500,000 VND worth of household goods in a day, so how much profit could we make? If we now have to pay the premium market fee 10-12 times, plus business tax… how are we supposed to make a living?”

According to vendors selling fresh produce, those without fixed stalls previously paid 5,000 VND per day, but now have to pay 20,000 VND per day. Vendors with fixed stalls/kiosks ( ^6m² ) previously paid 288,000 VND per year for space and 3,000 VND per day for market fees, but now pay 20,000 VND per day and over 3 million VND per year for space. "Space fees, market contributions, electricity, security, etc., have all increased, while daily profits are too low, adding to the difficulties," said Ms. Phan Thi My Dung, a vegetable vendor at Ham Nuoc Market, expressing her frustration.

Small business owners are upset about the announcement of increased market fees.

Besides Ms. Manh and Ms. Dung, many other small traders said that they were allocated stalls by the local authorities, then they built their own foundations, connected electricity, and constructed their own awnings… Now the management board is demanding that they hand over the electrical system for safe management, but at a price of 5,400 VND/kg. Furthermore, if they don't sell for 5 days, they have to dismantle the corrugated iron roof and return the space; and if they take a break from selling, they must have a written permission slip… Faced with these unacceptable demands, the small traders at Ham Nuoc Market collectively went to the Phu Yen Ward People's Committee to clarify the matter.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Trinh, a small business owner at this market, stated: “The new Management Board is using the high auction winning bid as an excuse to charge traders fees 10 or 12 times higher, but they haven't invested anything yet. In residential areas, more and more stalls selling goods are springing up; if market fees are high, small business owners will have to sell goods at high prices, affecting consumers; at the same time, it will be difficult to compete, and eventually, no one will come to the market to buy goods.”

People buy vegetables at the market.

In an interview with reporters from Dak Lak Newspaper and Television regarding the concerns of traders at Ham Nuoc Market, Mr. Nguyen Huu Thuat, Head of the Market Management Board, explained: Previously, according to Decision No. 1779/2011/QD-UBND of the People's Committee of Phu Yen province, market management was to be conducted through bidding. Currently, instead of bidding for market management, the assets are auctioned for lease, meaning the infrastructure is valued for lease and operation. The company that participated and won the auction for Ham Nuoc Market assets bid 559 million VND/year for a period of 5 years and began operations on December 18, 2025.

After taking over the market's operation, the company implemented a series of steps: counting, identifying and classifying, balancing, notifying, and issuing market regulations. "We based our leasing arrangements on the state's asset auction plan and consulted regulations to calculate market fees. We didn't hold a meeting with all the vendors, but we issued a general notice. If vendors have any concerns, we will explain and work specifically with them on each product group," Mr. Thuat said.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thai Thinh, Vice Chairman of the Phu Yen Ward People's Committee, Ngan Tin Trading Co., Ltd. won the auction for the Ham Nuoc Market assets. The management of the market after the auction will be carried out by Ngan Tin Trading Co., Ltd. under the supervision of the Ward People's Committee. Regarding the traders' complaints about high market fees, the local authorities are gathering information and working with the new Market Management Board to find a suitable solution.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/kinh-te/202601/thu-phi-cho-cao-tieu-thuong-cho-ham-nuoc-buc-xuc-89d09d8/