Compass Travel Vietnam
Market in Saigon was ‘happy again’, lights on until late at night
After a long time of business being affected by the epidemic, the management at markets in Ho Chi Minh City has increased the hours of sale, supported small merchants to sell through the app to attract customers, and gradually restored operations as before. Translate.
The food court at the Cambodian market (District 10, Ho Chi Minh City) is crowded and bustling on the afternoon of May 7 – Photo: Nhat Xuan
On the evening of May 7, the food court at the Cambodian market (District 10, Ho Chi Minh City) was lively again when a row of food stalls about 300m long was crowded with diners.
At dusk, many shops were full of customers, the line of people waiting for their turn to enjoy sidewalk cuisine with a diverse menu, and affordable prices. Because it was a weekend, many groups of young people came to “eat” and check in the “foreign market” in the middle of Saigon.
After two and a half years of being unable to return to Vietnam because of COVID-19, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh (60 years old, overseas Vietnamese) returned to Ho Chi Minh City and decided to go to the Cambodian market to both enjoy street food and buy some gifts. hometown to bring back to America.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh (left, American overseas Vietnamese) buys dried seafood from Ms. Thanh Mai (right, owner of Tu Xe shop) to bring to the US – Photo: Nhat Xuan
Spending millions to buy dozens of types of dried seafood, Ms. Thanh said these dishes are rare in the US, so every time she returns to Vietnam, she also visits the market to bring them back to her relatives who are abroad, this time paying all kinds of money. gifts up to… 2 pieces of checked baggage.
Like Ms. Thanh, many overseas Vietnamese who returned to Vietnam after airlines resumed international flights came to this market to buy gifts, causing the market’s small traders to “have money in and out of the field”.
After decades of trading at this market, Ms. Thanh Mai (owner of Tu Xe shop) said that after a long time as gloomy as the afternoon market, the number of customers returning to the market has gradually increased, especially in the past 2 weeks. Many overseas Vietnamese came to buy goods and bring them back to the West as gifts.
Due to the increasing number of customers flocking to this food street, Mai’s family also “overtime” when opening more barbeque stalls to sell in the evening instead of closing at 5pm as usual. “This time, there are more customers, especially in the evenings and weekends, around 8 pm there is no place to stand there,” Mai said.
The shop is crowded again, making small businesses have “copper in and out” after the epidemic season – Photo: Nhat Xuan
Similarly, Ben Thanh market (District 1) also began to be busier than before, when many stalls had re-opened business after a long time of “hibernation”, even lighting up until late at night.
Ms. Thuy (owner of tea stall No. 108) said that in the past 2 weeks, she has sold more than a few months ago. In particular, on the last holiday, besides domestic customers, there was more overseas Vietnamese returning home who also visited her, so the business was also more exciting.
Mr. Le Minh Hiep – Deputy Head of Ben Thanh Market Management Board – said that in the past 2 weeks, tourists to the market have increased sharply, especially during the last holiday, the market welcomed up to 3,000 visitors a day. , twice as high as usual.
Tourists visit and shop at Ben Thanh market (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) – Photo: NGOC PHUONG
According to Mr. Hiep, after the epidemic, the market mainly sold during the day, but now the market has changed to selling all night, for small traders to open until 10 pm to welcome more tourists.
“Besides, the market also encourages small traders to open online stalls and sell via Zalo, Facebook, and social networks. Around the market, there is also an extremely large number of motorbike taxi drivers who are always ready to cooperate to serve small businesses. ship goods” said, Mr. Hiep.
Currently, the market has opened more than 700 stalls (accounting for about 60% of the stalls), this is the time when the number of wholesale stalls is the highest in 2 years of the epidemic. According to Mr. Hiep, the stalls in the front, specializing in selling souvenirs, clothes, fabrics, confectionery, food, etc. are currently selling “fairly well”. It is expected that in the tourist season in June and July, the number of visitors will increase further.
The culinary space at Ben Thanh market (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) has flourished – Photo: NGOC PHONG
Meanwhile, big markets in districts in Ho Chi Minh City such as Ba Chieu market (Binh Thanh district), Hanh Thong Tay market (Go Vap district), and Tan Dinh market (District 1)… also gradually recovered when many small traders opened a wholesale store. In particular, some markets such as Ba Chieu market, and Hanh Thong Tay market also “light up” fashion business at night.
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Market in Saigon was ‘happy again’, lights on until late at night
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