Two billion-dollar markets are abandoned again in Vinh city

In early 2018, Hung Dong Market (Vinh City) was officially inaugurated and put into operation. Hung Dong Market was built on an area of ​​3,600 m²including 1 main building and 2 rows of sales kiosks and auxiliary works such as toilets, clean water tanks, fire prevention and fighting systems, wastewater drainage ditches... with a total investment of 5.7 billion VND.

Hung Dong Market was opened with the expectation of serving the people's trading needs, promoting local economic development, and contributing to the correction of the situation of temporary markets that spoil the urban beauty. However, after a short time of opening, the market had no customers.

Hung Dong market was invested with more than 5 billion VND but people do not want to hold meetings, it has been almost abandoned for nearly 2 years. Photo: Thu Huyen

Although the market was located right next to the main road, there were no people there, just a few meat stalls, a vegetable stall, and a general store. The main and secondary courtyards were closed and there was not a soul in sight.

The owner of the grocery store said that the reason the market was abandoned was because the main road was being upgraded and repaired, causing dust to fly everywhere, so people avoided it. Moreover, people still maintained the habit of going to Gia market (Hung Tay), Quan Bau market and nearby flea markets. Therefore, after a few market meetings with no customers, many businesses were forced to close, leaving only a few to make a living.

We have done everything we can, the entire political system has been involved; we have organized fairs, in which each organization and group has a stall selling fish, dried goods, etc. to maintain the market's operations, but after only 2-3 days of the fair, the market is closed again. Currently, over 60 kiosks have been almost sold out, but very few households are doing business. Although there are only a few households doing business, to attract the Commune People's Committee, we have not yet collected fees, and at the same time, we have to maintain a management team of people from the commune, led by the Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, to support. Every month and every quarter, mobilize the groups to clean up the environment.

Mr. Tran Anh Tan - Chairman of People's Committee of Hung Dong Commune, Vinh City.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Hung Dong Commune said that the reason is that there are many markets in the commune's border area, and people have long been used to going to these markets. Currently, the commune is planning about 100 plots of land to be auctioned in 2019 near the market area, at that time the market will hopefully be able to operate.

Nghi Kim new market, invested by Truong Son Construction Joint Stock Company, was built in 2015 but has never had a market. Photo: Thu Huyen

Nearby, Nghi Kim commune is also both laughing and crying at the situation where the local market cannot operate, while people have to hold street markets.

Implementing the new urban area project invested by Truong Son Construction Joint Stock Company, in 2015, Nghi Kim new market was built, but since then the market has been abandoned.

Mr. Tran Duc Dung - Vice Chairman of Nghi Kim Commune People's Committee said that the new market is part of a project including apartments, townhouses, kindergartens... with a total area of ​​6.6 hectares, of which the market construction area is 1,200 m2.². The commune has worked with the investor and learned that because the enterprise does not specialize in market management, it wants to transfer it to another enterprise for management and operation. Since its completion (2015) until now, the market has not been held once.

While the new Nghi Kim market is abandoned, nearby people have to hold a market on the roadside, causing traffic safety problems. Photo: Thu Huyen

Local people often go to Nghi Phu market and hold markets under Thang Long bridge and Nghi Kim bridge. Due to traffic safety issues, the commune has repeatedly deployed troops to restore order and prevent markets from being held at the foot of bridges and on the sidewalks. However, in reality, it is very difficult for the authorities and local people because the commune does not have a market; while the market built in the area is closed and locked.

Mr. Tran Duc Dung - Vice Chairman of Nghi Kim Commune People's Committee, Vinh City.

I think that the authorities of Vinh City need to take measures soon to resolve the situation, avoiding the situation of abandoned markets, which is both wasteful in construction and a loss of revenue for the local budget.