Vietnamese products are on display at a traditional market in southern Dong Nai Province. — Photo B. Nguyen

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Despite positive results of the "Vietnamese give priority to use Vietnamese goods" campaign, the ratio of Vietnamese goods being sold in traditional markets remains quite modest.

Le Ngoc Son, head of Dong Xuan Market Management Division of Dong Xuan Joint-Stock Company, said Vietnamese goods were being displayed in the market, mostly made by small-sized local companies or traditional handicraft villages. Big producers prefer to stay away from this traditional market channel.

A retailer in Dong Xuan market said local retailers often purchase a small volume of new products depending on the demand from local consumers first. Due to their limited capital, they always pay owners in full at the end of the year. Meanwhile, Vietnamese businesses often require them to place big orders and pay in advance thus causing much difficulty for them. In addition, local retailers are ignorant about Vietnamese products due to their inflexible payment methods, undiversified samples and high prices.

Pham Thi Thanh Ha, deputy director of Duc Giang Fashion Centre, said her company has never distributed garments to traditional markets because her company wants to retain its image. She, however, said that if local retailers can prove their eligibility, her company is willing to deliver garments to them.

Most of Vietnamese products sold at traditional markets have low-added value.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Viet Nam has more than 9,000 traditional markets and distributes some 80 per cent of goods to local consumers. If Vietnamese goods can enter this channel it would become a very useful distribution channel.

For this, a consensus should be reached between retailers and businesses that will be a key to developing this channel. Market management divisions also play an important role in linking retailers and businesses.

Son said his company will soon conduct meetings between retailers and businesses to sell goods in this market.

According to Vu Vinh Phu, chairman of the Ha Noi Supermarkets Association, local retailers must co-operate with each other and compete by improving the quality of products, prices and customer care services. And local businesses needed to pay more attention to local income earners via distribution channels at traditional markets, he said.

A representative of a manufacturing company said traditional markets have advantages as compared to supermarkets such as diversified and cheap products, and convenient locations. However, local businesses need to provide better product design and quality with reasonable pricing.According to the ministry, to bring more Vietnamese goods into traditional markets, businesses should allocate their goods to local retailers at wholesale markets for distribution in rural areas. This would help businesses save costs while establishing their sales agents in rural areas. — VNS