Project to upgrade the area around the West Temple of Vinh Market is behind schedule.
The project to upgrade the area behind the West Pavilion of Vinh Market was expected to eliminate the long-standing flooding problem, helping traders stabilize their businesses. However, after six months of implementation, traders are still forced to conduct their business in makeshift conditions, while the site remains incomplete.
The area behind the Tay communal house is the lowest-lying part of Vinh Market. For decades, it has been a hotspot for flooding, where many small traders have to "live with the water" every time the rainy season arrives. A heavy rain lasting a few hours is enough to cause the water level to rise nearly a meter, soaking goods, damaging machinery, making pathways muddy, and leaving customers scarce.
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Every year, during the flood season, this area becomes the focal point for small businesses. Many have lost everything due to flooding damage, as seen in 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, and beyond.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Ninh, a small business owner at Tay Market in Vinh, shared: “Every year I have to spend tens of millions of dong to compensate for goods that get moldy or washed away by the rain. I sell little but lose a lot, so many small business owners in this area, who used to have dozens of vendors, have now stopped doing business. The area inside is now just a storage space. At the beginning of the year, we heard about an upgrade project, and everyone was happy, but we've been waiting a long time and it's still not completed, so we can all feel secure.”
In fact, the aspirations of small traders seemed to have been answered after the Government issued Decree No. 60/2024/ND-CP dated June 5, 2024, on the development and management of markets. The Decree allows the use of a portion of the State budget to invest in the construction and upgrading of market infrastructure.
The Vinh Market Management Board has prepared a proposal to upgrade the entire area behind the Tay communal house with a total cost of over 2 billion VND, from the city budget and the market's own funds. The renovation covers an area of over 1,900m², including many important items such as leveling the ground, filling in the land, building internal roads, renovating the drainage ditch leading to the Vinh River, and raising the ground level to prevent long-term flooding...
The project commenced in early 2025 and was initially planned to be completed in about 1.5 months. During this time, the Market Management Board held meetings with traders, agreeing on a plan for business owners to be allocated temporary kiosks within the market premises in vacant locations to continue trading and ensure their livelihoods are not disrupted.
However, even after six months of construction, the site preparation at Tay Market in Vinh remains incomplete, causing frustration among many traders, who are still forced to conduct business in makeshift stalls.
"Selling goods in makeshift stalls built with tarpaulin and corrugated iron is unbearable in the sun and leaks when it rains. Customers are hesitant to come in because of the dust. The quality of goods is also affected, and they get damaged by the weather, especially grains, rice, and various types of beans...", a small trader shared.
Responding to questions about the project's delays, Mr. Nguyen Huu Dac, Head of the Vinh Market Management Board, said: "According to the initial plan, vendors were supposed to return to their original locations around March 2025. However, the allocation of funds from the city budget has been interrupted, leading to the project not being completed as planned."
According to Mr. Dac, the market management board is currently flexibly mobilizing additional resources and directing the construction unit to accelerate the remaining work to ensure completion by June 2025, stabilizing business operations before the upcoming rainy and stormy season.
Mr. Tran Quang Lam, Vice Chairman of the Vinh City People's Committee, said: Upgrading the area behind the West Pavilion of Vinh Market is an urgent measure to minimize flooding, protect property, and stabilize business for traders. Currently, the city is also directing the Vinh Market Management Board to flexibly utilize resources and accelerate progress to quickly bring traders back to their original locations.
It is expected that after the upgrade is completed, this area will accommodate approximately 100 business locations. Households that have been associated with Tay Temple for a long time will be given priority in choosing locations, while the remaining area will be open for registration by other households according to regulations.
