Rong has a history of more than 100 years. It was once among the most vibrant wholesale markets in the Red River Delta. It used to sell a wide range of products including household goods, children’s toys, and footwear, but it offered mostly fabrics and clothing. 

A Rong Market Management Board representative said the market has a total floor area of over 10,000 sqm, including 3 floors (2 for business), with nearly 1,600 kiosks, stalls and about 700 trading households.

In the memory of many locals, Rong market used to be so busy that delivery trucks came and went non-stop, and wholesale customers crowded aisles. At peak, a kiosk transfer price was up to VND2 billion.

Nguyen Thi Van, 68, a vendor selling children’s toys who has been working at Rong market for over 40 years, still vividly remembers the “golden days.”

“Back then, I specialized in selling all kinds of packaging and plastic bags, later switching to toys. From 2000 to 2010 was the peak. The whole market was bustling. From early morning, customers, mainly wholesale buyers, poured in continuously. Some days were so busy that I couldn’t even rest. 

Wholesalers bought in large quantities, so I had to constantly check goods, pack goods, and do the paperwork. After a quick lunch, I would immediately return to selling. Those were good times, everyone was happy because a crowded market meant stable income and enough money to raise children properly,” Van recalled.

With over 30 years of selling at Rong market, Vu Thi Kieu Oanh, 67, who specializes in middle-aged clothing, also remembers the once lively trading scene.

“Before 2010, wholesalers from provinces flocked to Rong market to source goods. It was incredibly lively. Sometimes, buyers even slept right in the market waiting for new arrivals,” Oanh said.

More sellers than buyers

Rong market is now a shadow of its former self. According to long-time merchants, although business began slowing slightly after 2010, it remained manageable. But from 2019 onwards, things became increasingly difficult, and many vendors left the market altogether.

In early June 2025, many kiosks at Rong market closed due to concerns over product origin inspections. Although stalls gradually reopened, a heavy sense of fear and uncertainty lingered. Currently, the number of sellers far outpaces the number of buyers, casting a gloomy atmosphere over the market.

Inside the market, many stalls were seen open without a single customer. Vendors were sitting idly, occasionally rearranging their goods out of boredom. Scattered among them were shuttered kiosks, covered in dust.

According to petty merchants at the market, Rong now has poor custom mainly due to changing shopping habits and the rapid rise of e-commerce. In the past, retailers and individual buyers saw the market as the go-to source for goods. Now, they have more options. 

Online shopping 

Many people have switched to online shopping, where they can order anything from the comfort of home, and often at more competitive prices. As a result, Rong market has lost its appeal.

“Lately, there have been days when I don’t sell a single item. Business is harder and harder, but I’m too old to find other work, so I try to hang on. After the product inspection campaign, we became more cautious when importing goods, paying more attention to labeling. I’ve also had to lower prices significantly, making very little profit just to retain customers. Still, the market remains mostly empty,” Oanh said with a sigh.

To avoid “barely surviving,” Rong market merchants are trying to reinvent themselves by switching to products more aligned with current consumer tastes. Many have also started learning how to sell online and expand their customer base beyond the physical market.

On slow days, some kiosk owners practice photographing their products, posting them on social media, or even opening storefronts on e-commerce platforms in hopes of reaching new customers.

Though learning new technology is a challenge for vendors who have sold goods the traditional way for decades, they understand that without adapting, they won’t be able to survive.

“We just keep encouraging each other to adapt and hang in there, not only to keep our livelihood but also to prevent Rong market from fading away,” Oanh shared.

Duy Anh