Near Tet, traditional market in Tam Ky is still deserted

(QNO) - Although it is the time near Tet, traditional markets in Tam Ky city are still deserted, many business and trading items of small traders are in a state of sluggishness.

The clothing stall is deserted and has few customers. Photo: T.N — The clothing stall is deserted and has few customers. Photo: TN

Known as a market for students and workers with affordable prices, but on the days approaching the Lunar New Year 2024, the number of people shopping at the Central Commercial Market (Tam Ky) has decreased significantly.

Having been selling at the market for more than 10 years, Ha Thu Tam, owner of a women’s fashion clothing stall, said that although December has passed, the shopping atmosphere for Tet is still unusually gloomy. Tam started importing new goods for Tet since Christmas, but the goods are still not selling well. Due to having many types of clothes in stock, she does not dare to import new goods these days.

“Every year at this time, the market is bustling with people shopping for Tet. But this year, there are very few people coming to buy; all I see are sellers and no buyers,” said Ms. Tam.

Ms. Huynh Thu Suong - the owner of a spice and dried food stall at Tam Ky market expressed her concern that regular customers from pubs and breakfast shops no longer regularly order spices due to sluggish business. She said that now her stall only maintains business with a few regular customers, but the number of orders has also decreased significantly.

A variety of Tet candies but few customers coming to buy. Photo: T.N — A variety of candies and cakes are available for the Tet market but there are few customers coming to buy them. Photo: TN

At Tam Ky market, opening early in the morning and closing late in the evening, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha - owner of Hai Ha confectionery stall, only sold a few kilos of cakes, candies, and jams to regular customers.

Ms. Ha said: “This year’s Tet goods are diverse, with many delicious cakes and candies, and the prices have not increased. However, the number of customers coming to the market is low, so I do not dare to import a lot of goods, for fear of not being able to sell them all.”

The economic difficulties and people tightening their spending have made the Tet shopping market at the traditional market less bustling. Ms. Linh - the owner of a clothing stall at the market said: "Sometimes I sit for a whole day and still can't sell a single shirt. Every now and then, a few customers come to see, ask for the price and then say they can order online because there are many beautiful designs at cheaper prices, so the traditional market is even more difficult."

To improve the situation, Ms. Linh researched and asked her son to guide her in selling online, but because she was old, had limited use of social networks, and had little capital to import many products, her clothing designs were not competitive enough with today's young fashion shops.

Many fruit stalls are deserted with customers. Photo: T.N — Many fruit stalls are deserted with customers. Photo: TN

Walking around the fruit stalls, we noticed a clear decrease in people’s purchasing power. Fresh fruit is a short-term commodity, often consumed very strongly near Tet, but many small traders sighed when business was slow these days.

Ms. Vu Thi Thanh Nga - Head of Tam Ky Market Management Board admitted that the shopping market during Tet this year is not as bustling as every year, and at the same time said that Tam Ky Market is increasing propaganda on internal loudspeakers and directly to small traders about food hygiene and safety, avoiding importing fake, counterfeit, and poor quality goods... so that consumers can feel secure when buying goods at the market in the days leading up to Tet.

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