Some traditional markets in Ho Chi Minh City will become supermarkets, Ben Thanh and Binh Tay markets will strongly develop tourism.

Many traders at traditional markets in Ho Chi Minh City are facing difficulties as the number of customers has dropped sharply - Photo: N.TRI

On April 22, at the workshop "People's market system - Looking to the future" organized by the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City, the goal was to find solutions, information, and report the results of the second phase of the project "Developing a market system in Ho Chi Minh City to adapt to the context of the pandemic and digital transformation of the economy ".

People turn their backs on the market for many reasons.

At the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City, said that the city currently has 232 traditional markets. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, business activities at the markets have faced many difficulties due to fierce competition with supermarkets, shopping malls and especially convenience store chains.

Faced with that situation, the city is researching comprehensive solutions to innovate market models, improve service quality and attract investment from society.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Hoang Cong Gia Khanh - Principal of the University of Economics and Law, the development of the market system is also in line with the need to exchange goods, which is a cultural feature of the people. However, the consumer trend is increasingly paying more attention to food safety and hygiene, and goods with clear origins.

"Business conditions in many markets in the city are deteriorating. The market system still has problems with selling goods at prices other than listed prices, counterfeit goods, and goods of unclear origin... this contributes to consumers gradually turning away," Mr. Khanh commented.

Given the above situation, many experts believe that first of all, it is necessary to change the function and model of the market, improve service quality, and form investment attraction policies to mobilize social participation.

Market function will change soon

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online on the sidelines of the workshop, Ms. Tran Nhu Quynh - Deputy Head of the Trade Management Department (Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City) - said that after this project, the industry and trade sector will propose to the City People's Committee and related units to have specific policies for the existence of markets and the development of the market system.

"Some ineffective traditional markets can be converted into supermarkets, supermarkets combined with markets, or can be converted into fairs, markets selling special and specialized products...", Ms. Quynh emphasized.

At the workshop, many experts offered solutions to overcome difficulties and develop traditional markets.

In addition, according to Ms. Quynh, we will consider proposing additional support policies, tax incentives, fees, loans... for small traders to overcome the difficult period. Increase training, support the application of information technology to gradually form an online market.

Many opinions also emphasize the role of the government in providing financial support and promoting the image of the market. Famous markets such as Ben Thanh, Binh Tay, An Dong... need to be preserved as part of the cultural heritage, associated with the development of tourism and trade of the city.

At the conference, many experts proposed amending Decree 60 on market management, especially the classification of market types. For example, workers' markets, sidewalk markets serving low-income people; specialized markets for the elderly; or market spaces combined with modern amenities for young people.

Besides increasing the application of technology and delivery services, Mr. Dao Ha Trung, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City High Technology Association, said that the market needs to find its own identity.

"People's markets should increase sales of local specialties, classify specific models, reform traffic, change functions, and even consider increasing business hours to 24 hours a day," Mr. Trung emphasized.

The leaders of the Department of Industry and Trade assessed the workshop as an important forum to continue to record and consult opinions from relevant agencies, units, experts, researchers... to find solutions to maintain and support the development of the market system in the city from now until 2030, with a vision to 2035.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/mot-so-cho-dan-sinh-cua-tp-hcm-thanh-sieu-thi-cho-ben-thanh-binh-tay-se-phat-trien-manh-du-lich-20250422202937686.htm