Traditional markets are considered to be a link in urban planning; therefore, giving renovations and rearrangements to market networks is an urgent requirement, thus contributing to completing the socio-economic development planning in Da Nang.

The application of cashless payment in traditional markets is a new step to help them attract more consumers. Customers are seen paying by bank transfer at the Con Market. Photo: QUYNH TRANG

Master Tran Danh Nhan, a lecturer of the Faculty of E-commerce at the Da Nang University of Economics, said that, the main benefit that a traditional market now brings is the great convenience of location, long with the variety of products on sale, affordable prices, social space and outstanding merchandise supplies in terms of fresh food items.

Besides the benefits, the traditional market is facing many limitations in terms of management and maintenance of facilities, general sanitation, the implementation of market regulations, and restricted communication skills, simple business methods of traders in the market.

Therefore, it is very urgent to call for even more investment in revamping markets in addition to promoting the management and training for small traders on service skills.

In order to improve market management in the coming time, the Hoa Vang District People's Committee has developed a plan to upgrade markets across this suburb district by 2025 with a number of tasks.

Under the plan, focus will be placed on assessing the current situation of markets, upgrading markets, enhancing operation management, complete the market management apparatus and building civilised and commercial markets that meet all food safety conditions and food trading.

Since the beginning of 2021, the Thanh Khe District People's Committee has implemented the project ‘Development of a market network in Thanh Khe District for the 2021 - 2025 period with a vision towards 2030’, which emphasises a need to build up a market network in the district in consistence with the socio-economic development planning of the district.

Mr. Vo Kim Tu, the Head of Economics Office of Thanh Khe District, said that the next task is to perform well the management and exploitation of business activities at markets, organise the arrangement of business lines in a scientific, reasonable and convenient way for stall holders and consumers.

Also, it is a must-do to build the management data of traders in 12 markets in the district, restructure the entire market management board.

Along with that, funding from the district’s budget will be spent on repairing and upgrading the downgraded market facilities.

The district is also making appeals for investment sources from the community to develop a market network.

Meanwhile, Master Tran Danh Nhan said that, in order for traditional markets to compete with modern commercial models such as marts, supermarkets and convenience stores, wet markets should be developed in a non-profit direction, from funding sources of the State, businesses and the society in order to maintain low costs for trading touting for business and ensure their competitiveness.

However, the operational and financial management needs to be professionalized to ensure that wet markets can operate profitably on their own and use that profit to reinvest in maintaining and improving the infrastructure.

Suitable businesses to be able to attract not-for-profit investment for traditional markets can be food supply or freight transport businesses. A possible way to help professionalise operational and financial management of wet markets could be the selection of management tender.

Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen Huu Hanh said that, in the coming time, the local industry and trade sector plans to upgrade and repair markets according to planning, well implement the city's policy on eliminating makeshift markets, build up a cultural and civilised lifestyle in traditional markets.

In addition, heed must be paid to preparing for the construction of Hoa Phuoc wholesale market, upgrading the downtown Con market in the direction of maintaining a civilised and modern traditional market and embellishing the Han Market.

In fact, the traditional market is not only a place of trade but has long been an attractive destination for domestic and international tourists.

The Da Nang Department of Industry and Trade is developing a research project for formulating model of traditional markets as cultural product outlet and tourism destination in an attempt to encourage more travellers arriving into Da Nang.

As reported by the Da Nang Department of Industry and Trade, currently, there are 74 markets of all kinds, of which there are 5 first-class markets, namely the Con, Han and Dong Da markets, the Hoa Cuong Wholesale and the Tho Quang seafood wholesale market.

The district/ ward/commune administrations now manage 67 markets whilst enterprises opeates two, namely seven in Hai Chau, 11 in Thanh Khe, five in Ngu Hanh Son, six in Cam Le, ten in Lien Chieu, nine in Son Tra and 19 in Hoa Vang.

The total area of market space is about 248,310m², in which 134,087m² is earmarked for the trading area (accounting for 54%) with a total of about 12,237 stall holders.

Reporting by QUYNH TRANG – Translating by A.THU