The local market is dilapidated, and vendors are struggling to make a living.
Many local markets in Nghe An province are in a state of disrepair and deterioration after a long period of operation, but have not received adequate investment for upgrading. Damaged roofs and outdated infrastructure not only directly impact the livelihoods of vendors but also pose potential safety risks to shoppers.
Quan Lau Market, located in Truong Vinh ward, Nghe An province, has long been a familiar trading spot for local residents. However, recently, especially after successive storms, the market has shown many signs of serious damage. On-site observations show that many areas of the roof are rotten, with corrugated iron sheets torn and peeling, requiring temporary bracing with steel wires and wooden stakes. Whenever there is heavy rain and strong winds, traders and shoppers alike are constantly worried that the roof could collapse at any moment.
Because the market has not been repaired in time, many vendors have been forced to spend their own money to "patch up" their stalls. Some are replacing the corrugated iron roofs, others are adding tarpaulins to protect against rain and sun. However, this is only a temporary solution, as the iron frame and support columns have deteriorated over time and do not guarantee long-term safety.
Having been associated with Quan Lau market for over 30 years, Ms. Le Thi Hai (84 years old) said that the market's deterioration is becoming increasingly serious. "The market is too old; it leaks everywhere whenever it rains or is windy. After typhoons No. 5 and No. 10 in 2025, the corrugated iron roof was blown off, and water splashed directly onto my stalls. I had to spend over 5 million dong to repair and replace the roof so I could continue trading."
Sharing the same concern, Ms. Thao (70 years old), another small trader at Quan Lau market, said: "The market has been dilapidated and damaged for many years. We only hope that the authorities will soon have a plan to repair and upgrade it so that traders can feel secure in their business and people can go to the market more safely."
Not only Quan Lau Market, but also Hung Dung Market, located in Truong Vinh ward, after nearly 30 years of operation, is now in a state of noticeable deterioration. Many structures are severely damaged, especially the corrugated iron roofs, which are punctured and blown off after storms, but have not been thoroughly repaired, posing a potential safety risk to traders and shoppers.
Mr. Nguyen Khac Thanh, Deputy Head of the Hung Dung Market Management Board, said that the market was built a long time ago, and the frequency of storms in recent years has increased, causing increasingly serious damage. “Typhoon No. 5 caused significant damage to traders, and before we could even repair it, Typhoon No. 10 swept through, further exacerbating the damage. It is estimated that about 200 stalls and kiosks were damaged, with losses amounting to billions of dong.”
Hung Dung Market has approximately 400 stalls and sales locations. However, due to long-term infrastructure deterioration, business operations face many difficulties, and the number of customers has decreased significantly. Faced with this situation, many small traders have been forced to abandon their stalls inside the market and sell their goods haphazardly on sidewalks and roads to make a living. This situation not only poses a risk to traffic safety but also disrupts urban order, affects urban aesthetics, and increases the management pressure on the local government.
As one of the small business owners severely affected by the storm, Ms. Tran Thi Be, a food vendor at Hung Dung market, said that Typhoon No. 10 at the end of September 2025 completely blew away the corrugated iron roof of her 45m² stall. “After the storm, my family had to spend nearly 100 million VND to repair and mitigate the damage. Despite the difficulties, we still have to try to maintain our business, because this is our family's long-term livelihood,” Ms. Be shared.
The dilapidated condition of Quan Lau Market and Hung Dung Market not only directly impacts the livelihoods of hundreds of small traders but also causes many inconveniences for people shopping, especially during the rainy season. In addition, the makeshift electrical system and dilapidated roofs pose a high risk of fire and explosions during the hot season, threatening the safety and property of traders and residents. Given the lack of a plan for relocation and land clearance, and the continued existence of these markets, a plan to repair these traditional markets is still necessary to ensure safety in transportation and fire prevention.