VietNamNet Bridge - Many Thai and Japanese goods are being sold on HCM City sidewalks and along roads.

On Dien Bien Phu Street sidewalk in Binh Thanh District, Thai sandals were piled up, pricing from VND30,000 ($1.5) to VND55000 ($2.5)/pair. Sellers said that they had bought these products from the Cambodian border.

"Previously I traded Vietnamese and Chinese footwear but these products are no longer favored by users. Meanwhile, Thai products are sold widely at the border, at cheap prices, so I have decided to choose them as alternatives," said a woman selling Thai footwear on Dien Bien Phu Street pavement.

She added that many kinds of Thai goods, from cosmetics to food, detergent, and household appliances were sold at the Vietnam-Cambodia border.

"Thai goods are much cheaper than other foreign products. If you cross the border to Kampot, Koh Kong or Sihanoukville in Cambodia, you can choose many exclusive items and can earn high profit from them," she said.

In addition to Thai goods, Japanese products are also sold on the sidewalk.

Thai products in a supermarket in HCM City.

On Nguyen Tat Thanh Road in District 4, Japanese T-shirts are sold along the road every morning, at the price of VND35,000 ($1.6). Sellers said these products were brought from Japan to Vietnam by travelers or secondhand products.

"Although they are secondhand things, Vietnamese consumers still like them very much because the quality is still good," said a seller named Hoa.

Some office workers have opened online shops to sell Thai and Japanese products.

Thanh, an employee of a media company in District 1, said she was very excited about trading Thai goods. In addition to selling Thai products at a weekend bazaar, she also sells sunglasses, shoes and clothes online.

"The prices of Thai goods are not higher than Vietnamese or Chinese products so they are favored by many consumers. I can earn VND4-5 million from this extra job," Thanh said.

Thai and Japanese goods have also entered supermarkets in Vietnam through retail giants.

Japanese group Aeon Mall has opened two large shopping centers in Vietnam, with over 30% of goods from Japan. A few days ago, the group signed a strategic cooperation with Citimart, which owns 30 supermarkets in Vietnam. The two sides are expected to expand the system to 500 supermarkets in 2025.

Also, the Berli Jucker Corporation (BJC), owned by the third richest man in Thailand (according to Forbes) - Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi - spent almost $880 million to acquire the entire retail chain Metro Cash & Carry Vietnam.

After the handover is completed in 2015, the 19 supermarkets of Metro will be attractive destinations for Thai goods in Vietnam.

In addition, many department stores like Parkson and Maximart as well as convenience stores like Family Mart and B's Mart contain many Thai and Japanese goods.

Figures show that in January-October 2014, China took the lead for exports to Vietnam, with $35 billion, followed by Korea with $17 billion.

Japan and Thailand respectively ranked 3rd and 5th with $10.3 and $5.8 billion dollars. Fruit and vegetables from Thailand ($138 million) and Japanese fabrics had very high growth rates.

Hai Ly