VietNamNet Bridge – While the Hanoi People’s Committee has many times affirmed that the city would speed up the plan to develop modern supermarkets and shopping malls, the Hanoi People’s Council does not think this way.

Hang Da Market, Hanoi.

Hanoi dreams of developing modern supermarkets and hypermarkets which would replace the existing traditional markets, described as “untidy” and unsuitable to the modern lifestyle.

Some big traditional markets in Hanoi have been rebuilt and upgraded into modern shopping malls in recent years, which is a part of the program on developing the modern market system in the capital city.

However, the program has failed completely while the newly built shopping malls have been left idle. The markets have been opened, but urban dwellers do not go to the modern markets. They would rather go to nearby small markets or the pavement shops.

The participants, who attended the meeting of the municipal people’s council held on July 5, spent many hours to inquire the city’s leaders about the program and the solutions to the idle markets.

People’s committee insists on modern supermarket network

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Mayor Nguyen Van Suu emphasized that this is a growing tendency in big urban areas to develop modern supermarkets and shopping malls instead of traditional markets. Therefore, he affirmed that the city has been pursuing a reasonable policy to develop modern markets.

The city’s leader has attributed the quietness of the newly built markets to the Hanoians’ shopping habit. The people, who have got used to buying goods anywhere they can find shops, feel inconvenient to park their motorbikes in the right places and go upstairs and downstairs to look for the products they want.

Suu also said that the modern markets have been left idle because of the decreasing purchasing power in the economic crisis. As a result, the Hang Da, Cua Nam and O Cho Dua shopping malls cannot attract visitors, though they are the “modern” and “civilized.” The small merchants who lease retail premises there have rushed to give the premises back.

Hoan, a retired woman in Hoan Kiem district, said she does not intend to go to Hang Da Market for daily food or essential things, because everything there is more expensive than at pavement shops, while it’s inconvenient to go there.

When asked if the city’s authorities would continue following the modern market development program, Suu affirmed that the city’s plan needs to be implemented.

Traditional markets will exist in 5-7 more years at least

According to Director of the Hanoi Industry and Trade Department--Le Hong Thang, Hanoi has five modern markets, of which four have become operational, while the construction of the 19/12 Market has not been completed yet.

The existing problems with the new markets have led to the city’s decision to cancel the two Hom and Nghia Tan market projects.

Besides, the city’s authorities have instructed to delay the implementation of the other 9 market projects.

Chair of the Hanoi People’s Council--Ngo Thi Doan Thanh, concluded that Hanoi still cannot eliminate traditional markets and it must not eliminate the markets in the next five or seven years at least. Traditional markets would still exist, because this is legitimate of the Hanoians. Therefore, Hanoi needs to plan the construction of traditional markets as a part of its infrastructure development program.

TBKTVN