Do Luong: Aiming to build a goods distribution center for districts in the Southwest region

Eliminate the shabby old market

Throughout history, the ancient Luong region and today's Do Luong have been famous for their prosperity and urbanization. Located in a very beautiful location with administrative boundaries adjacent to all 6 districts (Yen Thanh, Anh Son, Tan Ky, Thanh Chuong, Nam Dan, Nghi Loc), and being the convergence point of important road traffic routes (QL7A, QL15, QL46A), guarding the gateway to the rich Southwest region of Nghe An, this is considered the center of Nghe An province, attracting a large number of people from all over to exchange and trade goods, being an important driving force for the socio-economic development of the whole province.

In fact, from past to present,Do Luongalways been considered as a transit center for goods from Vinh, Dien Chau to the western mountainous districts and vice versa. Nearly 30 years ago, at the end of 1994, to meet the needs of business, trade and exchange of goods in Do Luong district and neighboring areas, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee decided to establish Do Luong Commercial Center Market.

Inside the old market area of ​​Do Luong. Photo: Tien Dong

After nearly 30 years of operation,Do Luong Commercial Center Markethas become a bustling trading place. At its busiest, this market has more than 800 fixed and mobile stalls, with a daily traffic of more than 2,000 people. However, after a long period of operation, Do Luong Commercial Center Market has seriously degraded, with the risk of fire safety at an alarming level.

According to the plan, after successfully closing Do Luong Trade Center Market, Do Luong District People's Committee will proceed to liquidate State assets, clear the land, and design and make detailed plans for the park area. Photo: Tien Dong

In that situation, on February 15, 2017, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 571/QD-UBND approving the investment policy of the Do Luong Trade Center project combined with the traditional market (new market), to replace the Do Luong Trade Center market. After more than 3 years of completing investment and construction procedures, the project was completed and put into operation by the investor, Hai An - Do Luong Cooperative. Meeting the requirements of professionalizing the trade sector, contributing to a strong change in the local economic landscape, expanding job opportunities for the people.

In parallel with the opening of the new market, on April 6, 2022, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 881/QD-UBND to abolish Do Luong Commercial Center Market in Do Luong town. After the official decision of the Provincial People's Committee, the Do Luong District People's Committee also carried out related procedures to relocate all business people to the new market area, and at the same time closed and proceeded to completely abolish Do Luong Commercial Center Market.

In the old market area, considered the former military base of Do Luong, where the Do Luong mutiny took place on January 13, 1941, people have long organized incense burning, but in a very makeshift manner. Photo: Tien Dong

Mr. Tran Van Son - Chairman of Do Luong Town People's Committee said: It must be admitted that the old market area is a place where a large number of people in the town in particular and neighboring communes in general trade for a long time. However, the deterioration of facilities and infrastructure, especially fire prevention work, always makes us feel nervous every time the hot season comes. After building the new market, along with investment in infrastructure development, the local government has also actively mobilized and moved more than 1,000 households doing business and trading at the old market to the new market area.

"After the district successfully closes the old market, the town People's Committee will take over management. In the immediate future, we will plan to invest and build sidewalks around the old market area, so that later, when the district completes the asset liquidation procedures, it will build a park, a place for recreation, entertainment and cultural activities for local people" - Mr. Son added.

Do Luong Shopping Mall officially closed after about 30 years of operation. Photo: Tien Dong

Prospects for a distribution hub

Present in the new market area, located about 500m from the old market area, on National Highway 7A, the most easily recognizable thing is a bustling area, with a modern design that is always crowded with people coming in and out to shop. Outside are rows of high-rise kiosks surrounding the traditional market. Following the main gate to the inside are the two main pavilions of the market (pavilion A and pavilion B), with many business areas of agricultural products, vegetables, tubers, fruits, general merchandise, clothing, fabrics, electronics... The distance between the market pavilions is arranged widely, creating conditions for vehicles to load and unload goods and ensure fire prevention work.

The 3.5-storey kiosks surrounding the market hall have become a highlight of Do Luong urban area. Photo: Tien Dong

Through research, it is known that the project to build a new market in Do Luong town has a total investment of more than 330 billion VND, completely replacing Do Luong commercial center market.

This project is implemented on an area of ​​3.44 hectares, including 1,338 kiosks, stalls, and 3.5-storey kiosks surrounding the outside. After completion, business households at the old market will be given priority to arrange business kiosks at the new market. Business households can choose to pay for rental space for sales at the new market according to 3 options: Pay annually (12 months/time); pay 3 times within 3 years or pay once for the entire project implementation period (47 years). Rental price according to area is implemented according to the provisions of Decision 73/2016/QD-UBND of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee.

The joy of small traders after moving to the new market. Photo: Tien Dong

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai, a business owner at the old market, has now moved to the new market to do business and said: Her family chose to pay in one lump sum for the entire project implementation period. With this payment method, in addition to receiving a 15% discount from the investor compared to the rental price according to the province's regulations, they also received the highest support for market relocation costs. Calculating the total amount paid divided by month, the monthly rental fee for the kiosk is only about 1 million VND, while the area is spacious, airy and vehicles can load and unload goods much more conveniently than in the old market.

The walkways between areas in the new market are very spacious and covered so they are protected from rain and sun. Photo: Tien Dong

Many small traders have moved to the new market area to do business since 2021 and have now stabilized their business. Ms. Huong, a small trader of dried food products, said: Due to the nature of the products, we often sell a lot. Previously, in the old market, the goods were piled up in the market and we were always worried about fires. But now, the new market is large, beautiful, spacious, and does not get rained on or sunburned. When the time is up, we close the stall and go home to sleep without having to worry about anything.

Many households moved to the new market to do business since 2021 and have stabilized their businesses and grown more than when they were in the old market. Photo: Tien Dong

Currently, more than 99% of the traders from the old market have moved to the new market to trade. This is especially true when the new market area gradually affirms its role and position, becoming a transit hub for goods for many districts in the southwestern region of the province. Especially in the vegetable, root and fruit market area, every night there are usually 70-100 trucks from localities in the province as well as trucks from other provinces such as Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Thua Thien Hue, Hung Yen, Hai Duong... coming to pick up and unload goods.

The distance between pavilions A and B of the new market is arranged far apart, ensuring vehicles can enter to load and unload goods. Photo: Tien Dong

According to Mr. Nguyen Trung Thanh - Vice Chairman of Do Luong District People's Committee: Completing the closure of the old market and moving almost all the people doing business at the old market to the new market is a big step forward in the rearrangement and re-planning of Do Luong urban area, aiming to realize the goal of building Do Luong into a town before 2030. At the same time, developing the trade and service system, the goods distribution system along the National Highway 7 corridor, according to Decision 168/QD-UBND dated January 18, 2023 on approving the construction planning of Do Luong district for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, recently issued by the Provincial People's Committee.

"This also aims to realize the goal of building Do Luong into a center for goods distribution and a focal point for major commercial and social service activities for the district and the southwestern region of the province," Mr. Thanh emphasized.