Reasons why Can Tho food street businessmen stop selling at night

Excited early days of business

Launched at the end of August 2023, Ho Xang Thoi Food Street has been piloted to operate from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the next day, bringing a new breeze, creating favorable conditions for business people and tourists.

After being allowed to operate until 6am the next day, Ms. My Duyen (Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City) saw this as an opportunity to do business and earn extra income. “A few days after the launch ceremony, I decided to invest in buying tables, chairs, and machinery to open a small roadside cafe to earn some extra income,” Ms. Duyen said.

According to Ms. Duyen, the expansion of operating hours has made the revenue positive in the early days. “On the first day, I earned a few hundred thousand, gradually increasing to 1 million VND, and on holidays, I made more profit. I can sell all night, so when there are no more customers, I close the shop, so business is also easy, there is no need to rush to set up shop early,” Ms. Duyen said.

Ms. Thanh Thuy (Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City) said: “Before being allowed to extend the operating hours, most stores were closed by 8pm, and there were few passersby. But later, the extended business hours brought more customers. If the previous profit was about 1 million VND/day, it later increased to 1.4 million, and on holidays, it was still 2 million.”

Stop selling at night due to lack of customers

According to some businesses at Ho Xang Thoi Food Street, although it has been in operation for more than half a year, the number of customers going out to eat and drink at night is still sparse, which has caused difficulties for businesses.

Reporter's record at around 8pm, a section of Huynh Cuong street was quite deserted. Photo: Bich Ngoc.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh (Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City) said: “The first 1-2 days of operation were quite bustling, but then around 9pm it was very quiet, with few people passing by. Without people going out or eating, my store could not do business. At first, I could still make a profit of 400,000-500,000 VND/day, but then it dropped to a few tens of thousands, sometimes up to 100,000 VND.”

With few customers at night, Ms. Thanh has now switched to selling in the morning and afternoon, but stopped selling at night because the revenue is quite low. “Although I am located in a food street area, I can sell all night, but when there are few customers, I have to accept it. Now I only sell in the morning and afternoon according to the working hours of the people, so the revenue is good,” Ms. Thanh said.

After more than half a year of opening, the food street is still deserted, making it difficult for many people to do business. Photo: Bich Ngoc — Lack of customers has affected business people's revenue. Photo: Bich Ngoc

A rather empty cafe. Photo: Bich Ngoc — A coffee shop is also deserted. Photo: Bich Ngoc

Less than a month after opening his shop, Mr. Phan Anh Tuan (Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City) hastily closed it due to poor sales. “Far from the center, limited street lights, and very few tourists. The situation was not optimistic, so I stopped selling because I was afraid that if I continued to maintain it, I would lose money. After nearly a month of opening, I broke even and did not make a profit,” said Mr. Tuan.

According to Mr. Tuan, although the operating hours have been extended, the number of visitors to the food street is still low because it has not met the entertainment needs of residents and tourists. “Maybe because it is not on a major road, many people are afraid to come in, and there is no place to play or decorate to create an attractive landscape for tourists. When it first opened, it was bustling and crowded, but now it is deserted, and people are doing less business at night because of difficulties,” Mr. Tuan added.

The Ho Xang Thoi culinary area, on De Tham - Huynh Cuong street and Ho Xang Thoi area, is one of two models of night-time economic development of localities, included in the project "Night-time economic development in Can Tho city (pilot in Ninh Kieu district)" of the People's Committee of Ninh Kieu district launched on the evening of August 31, 2023, allowing businesses in the culinary area to be allowed to expand from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

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