Finding directions for tourism development in Tay Ninh Part 1: To turn traditional markets and night markets into tourist attractions

Some booths in Long Hoa Commercial Center.

However, most visitors to Tay Ninh come during the day and then return to Ho Chi Minh City or neighboring places. The number of visitors staying is not much because Tay Ninh has very few places for entertainment. Commercial centers, markets, entertainment services, food and beverage, night entertainment... have not been properly invested, not really attracting tourists to visit and shop. How to build traditional markets, night markets in the area in a civilized and friendly direction... is an issue that needs to be paid attention to, contributing to building a safe and friendly destination, promoting tourism development in Tay Ninh.

There are 10 traditional markets in operation in Tay Ninh city, of which 2 are second-class markets, the city market and ward 3 market, and the remaining 8 are third-class markets. The markets have been upgraded and newly built to meet the shopping needs of local people.

As for the City Market, the investment project to build a new market has been approved by the City People's Council. The scale after being revised and supplemented is a class 1 market with 450 business locations, a total investment of 79.4 billion VND, and a construction area of 14,667 m2. Currently, the project is in the process of appraising and approving the results of selecting a consulting contractor, surveying and designing construction drawings - estimates; organizing open bidding according to procedures; it is expected that the City Market will start construction in early October 2023.

Mr. Luong Ba Can - Vice Chairman of Tay Ninh City People's Committee said that the previously established night markets in the city could not maintain operations, the main reason was ineffective operations, prolonged losses, so investors could not call for investment cooperation, did not maintain and invest in upgrading the night markets, leading to the project investment target not being achieved.

After the ineffective implementation of two night markets in 2011 and 2016, the lesson learned is that it is necessary to choose investors with sufficient financial capacity and experience, and to learn from the experiences of some provinces and cities with effective night markets, with long-term development plans, policies to support investors in terms of funding, location, advertising, etc., thereby developing night markets in the area in a more professional and attractive manner.

In Hoa Thanh town, there are 9 markets, including 1 second-class market (Long Hoa market) and 8 third-class markets. The third-class markets are mainly people's markets, not organizing night markets, only operating from 4:00 a.m. to about 8:00 p.m., according to regulations managed by the People's Committee at the commune level. Since 2014, Hoa Thanh has implemented the National Target Program on New Rural Development, 8/8 third-class markets have received budget investment from the Town People's Committee to build market houses, market yards, drainage systems, and roads to ensure business for small traders; mobilize small traders to contribute to investing in building canopies for their kiosks, stalls - business locations in the form of socialization.

In 2002, Long Hoa market's AB area was invested in and converted into Long Hoa Commercial Center; in 2017, it was invested in the form of BOT according to the traditional market model. By January 18, 2019, CD area was completed and put into use. However, AB area has not been connected according to the technical design, so traders have not been arranged to do business in CD area. Currently, most traders are arranged to do business and trade in the old AB area, CD area yard and Huynh Thanh Mung street from gate 2 to gate 8 of the market.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Hao - Vice Chairman of Hoa Thanh Town People's Committee said that Long Hoa market has organized a night market since the 1990s until now, meeting from 12 midnight to about 5 am the next day, with full range of products to serve tourists' shopping needs such as food, souvenirs, food stalls, etc.

However, when implementing the Long Hoa Commercial Center project, due to the failure to connect the CD and AB areas according to the design, the market has not operated according to the planned orientation; the number of Long Hoa market traders is large, while the arrangement and layout of stalls - business locations of traders is not suitable, still inadequate, messy, leading to the sale encroaching on the sidewalk, losing the beauty, affecting environmental hygiene, food safety, causing frustration for both traders and visitors, shopping.

For third-class markets in the area, the infrastructure is deteriorating, environmental hygiene is not guaranteed... The market management mechanism and policies are not yet consistent, there are no specific instructions on the expenditure norms for the activities of the market management board, and members of the market management board all work part-time. On the other hand, the revenue from services using the sales area at the market is very low, leading to the expenditure for the market management board not meeting the requirements, and it is difficult to find people with good expertise and skills to participate in management.

The People's Committee of Hoa Thanh town is actively coordinating with the provincial authorities to focus on implementing solutions to remove obstacles and speed up the investment progress of the construction of the AB area of Long Hoa market. After the Provincial People's Committee has an investment policy, the AB area will start construction, connecting the CD area to form a complete traditional market, with a dedicated area for the night market, a wholesale market distributing food for the town and neighboring localities, creating favorable conditions for traders and traders to distribute, transport, exchange, and buy and sell goods, contributing to the development of the local socio -economy.

Regarding the development orientation of the night market and night food street, the Town encourages organizations and individuals to invest in development on Nguyen Chi Thanh Street from the Holy See to Hoa Thanh Park and An Duong Vuong Street - the section from the Holy See to the People's Committee of Long Thanh Bac Ward to serve tourists. In addition, the Town is also calling on households to participate in the night food area around the Town Stadium located on Pham Thai Buong Street to meet the needs of people in the Hoa Thanh area and neighboring areas.

Long Hoa Market is one of the large-scale markets in Tay Ninh province, the center of trade, exchange and distribution of goods of the province in general and Hoa Thanh town in particular. The market is located right in the center of Hoa Thanh town, a stopover for sightseeing and shopping for domestic and foreign tourists when traveling and working in Tay Ninh.

However, in traditional markets in Tay Ninh city and Hoa Thanh town, there are still chaotic trading situations, encroachment on the road and sidewalks, and loss of urban beauty. This causes fear for tourists when visiting. The situation of traders in public areas at night is still complicated and coping; when there is no inspection force, they return to encroachment as before.

Mr. Luong Ba Can - Vice Chairman of Tay Ninh City People's Committee said: "The City People's Committee directs the Urban Management Department to coordinate with the People's Committees of wards, communes, and the City Police to continue to strengthen patrols and resolutely handle violations in building a civilized urban lifestyle and traffic safety and order on the roads".

According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Hao - Vice Chairman of Hoa Thanh Town People's Committee, to thoroughly handle and overcome the situation of chaotic trading, encroachment on sidewalks and roads against regulations in traditional markets in the coming time, it is required to first invest in building markets that meet design standards according to TCVN 9211:2012; organize and arrange goods and stalls scientifically, suitable to the actual conditions of each market, creating a pleasant and comfortable feeling for both traders and customers when visiting, exchanging and buying and selling at the market.

Next, synchronously implement solutions, from propaganda, mobilization to patrolling, controlling, reminding and strictly handling violations of laws on urban order and traffic safety by all levels and functional branches.

Truc Ly

(to be continued)

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