Vendors at many traditional markets in HCM City, in a bid to attract customers, have been offering discounts, selling online and accepting cashless payment.
Tran Kim Thu, who owns a clothes stall in Ben Thanh Market in HCM City, says: “The maximum sales per day now are only around VND2 million (US$87). It must be at least VND6 million ($262) to break even.”
The HCM City Market Management Department said it has been working closely with other agencies to strengthen oversight of traditional markets to ensure traders there sell essential goods at fair prices.
The HCM City Department of Industry and Trade has asked authorities in all 21 districts and Thủ Đức City to develop plans to reopen traditional markets and wholesale markets from October 1.
The HCM City People Committee has instructed Thu Duc City and district authorities to draw up plans to reopen traditional markets and ensure they remain safe from Covid-19.
Lưu Thế Hiển, 28, a deliveryman in HCM City, said he was rushing to deliver the last shipment of the day before 5pm, when the booking application automatically turns off until 6am the next day.
The HCM City People''s Committee has instructed Thu Duc City, districts and related departments to decide how they can safely reopen traditional markets before July 23.
HCM City authorities have demanded that supermarkets and convenience stores take preventive measures to handle essential goods reselling at much higher prices, causing a supply shortage at supermarkets.
HCM City is considering a financial support package worth more than VND76 billion (US$3.31 million) from the State budget to support small traders at traditional markets affected by the pandemic.
The Covid-19 virus is likely to exist in many places, especially crowded places such as supermarkets, shopping malls and traditional and wholesale markets, and so strict preventive measures at markets are vital.