The Ninh Kieu night market area is not only a famous tourist destination but also a place to enjoy a variety of street food, attracting tourists every time they come to Can Tho. The market operates from 4pm to midnight.

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Can Tho's famous night market attracts visitors. Photo: Tran Tuyen

Recently, small traders have expressed concern and insecurity when the rental price of premises has increased nearly 20 times, affecting business activities, so they have sent a petition to the People's Committee of Ninh Kieu district to consider and resolve the matter properly.

Having been in business for nearly 8 years, Ms. Lam Thi Muoi (56 years old) said that this place is also known as the street vendor street. The rent for a space of about 3 - 4 square meters used to be 150 thousand VND/month, now it has increased to nearly 3 million VND. The high rent means that Ms. Muoi and other vendors have to increase the price of food by about 2,000 - 5,000 VND.

“Just a few square meters and earning up to 3 million VND is too high. Now the business is struggling, only worrying about selling at high prices, tourists won’t come to buy, if it’s too difficult, I’ll just sell on the street,” Ms. Muoi worried.

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If she cannot hold on, Ms. Muoi will be forced to push a cart of fried balls to sell along the street. Photo: Tran Tuyen

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Vice Chairman of Ninh Kieu District People's Committee, said that previously, the locality temporarily arranged street vendors along the roads into one area to ensure urban security and order.

At that time, the district did not have a mechanism to collect land fees from residents, only collecting flower fees. Now it has switched to a new model, allowing bidding, with prices and collection times, and the winning bidder has the right to exploit.

"The district has directed the Economic and Finance Department and related units to re-determine whether the collection price is reasonable, and at the same time, mobilize and explain so that people and small traders can understand," Mr. Anh shared.

Is there any ambiguity in the contract signing process?

According to VietNamNet reporters, at the end of April 2022, the People's Committee of Can Tho City approved a project to develop the night-time economy in the area, piloting in Ninh Kieu district.

After the project was approved, the Department of Culture and Information of Ninh Kieu district consulted on selecting an auction unit and organized an auction to select an investor. During this time, Ninh Kieu Night Market Company Limited was allowed to continue to extend its investment in exploiting the night market until a new investor was found.

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Increasing rental prices means that small businesses have to increase their selling prices. Photo: Tran Tuyen

On December 4, 2023, Ngo Thong Nhat Joint Stock Auction Company organized an auction for the right to exploit the walking street in Ninh Kieu district, with a pilot exploitation period of 2 years.

Mekong Investment Group Joint Stock Company (Mekong Company - PV) won the auction with a price of more than 8.7 billion VND. On December 12, 2023, the District People's Committee issued a decision approving the auction results.

According to the auction regulations, if the winning bidder does not sign the contract within 30 days from the date of successful auction, the auction result will be canceled and the auction will be reorganized. However, it was not until April 15, 2024 that the district's Department of Culture and Information and Mekong Company signed the contract.

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The district proposed to hand over the Ninh Kieu night market site on Vo Van Tan and Nguyen Thai Hoc streets to Mekong Company before June 1. Photo: Tran Tuyen

Responding to this issue, Mr. Tran Quoc Thanh, Head of the District Department of Culture and Information, explained that on December 21, 2023, the unit and Mekong Company held an agreement on the content of the contract. After the agreement, the two sides basically agreed on the draft content.

“However, through actual survey, the auctioned assets include 4 exploitation items (Can Tho market premises; street vendors; parking lot and Ninh Kieu night market) currently managed by another unit.

Mekong Company requests the district to issue a written directive to resolve the above-mentioned issues in order to hand over the site to the company before signing the contract. In case of delayed handover, the contract signing time will be implemented when the company receives all or 3/4 of the items.

It was only when Tan An Ward People's Committee handed over 3 items, only Ninh Kieu night market was missing, that the department signed the contract on April 15," Mr. Thanh informed.

According to the leader of the district's Department of Culture and Information, signing a contract later than the prescribed time is "force majeure" but still ensures compliance with legal regulations.

Regarding the above incident, on May 29, the People's Committee of Ninh Kieu District issued an official dispatch requesting Ninh Kieu Night Market Company Limited to stop operating the night market on Vo Van Tan and Nguyen Thai Hoc streets. At the same time, handle related issues such as financial obligations, liquidation of contracts with traders, relocation of assets, etc.

In addition, the district also requested the People's Committee of Tan An Ward to coordinate with relevant units to hand over the vacant land at Ninh Kieu night market to Mekong Company, no later than June 1.

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