Today, January 15, Da Nang's Con Market, the largest wholesale and retail venue in Central Viet Nam, reopened after 3 days of temporary closure due to COVID-19 cases.

The Con Market on the first reopening day

It is known that there are combined total of nearly 2,000 market stallholders at the market. But, as observed on Saturday morning, the number of market stallholders who are back in business accounts for only one-fourth of the normal total. Most of them are involved in trading essential foods for Tet including cakes, candies, jams, spring rolls, cha heo (pork paste) and ‘cha bo’ (beef paste).

An owner of a small confectionery stall expressed that she and other market stallholders have already stockpiled a lot of Tet goods, so they were very worried about their further trading activities in the context of complicated and unpredictable developments of COVID-19.

"This morning, I felt strangely happy as the market was allowed to be back in business. I hope that both sellers and shoppers will strictly comply with the 5K recommendations so that the market can operate smoothly amid COVID-19 crisis" added she.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dac Hung, Head of the Authority of the Con Wet Market, on the first reopening day, all sellers at the market are required to show their negative test results via the RT-PCR technique with validity within 72 hours. Meanwhile, market-goers must use QR codes for medical declarations when coming to the market. They also are asked to disinfect their hands and keep a safe distance from others.

“Due to a growing fear over the pandemic, the number of market stallholders and shoppers coming to the market is still modest. We regularly remind market stallholders to wear masks properly and disinfect their hands, as well as avoid gatherings at the same time at the market", said Mr. Hung.

Reporting by QUYNH TRANG - Translating by M.DUNG