From October 1, 2025, Nga market is announced to move from 328 Vo Van Kiet (Cau Ong Lanh ward) to 125 Hai Ba Trung (Saigon ward). This market has long been known as a place for trading Vietnamese goods exported to Russia and Russian specialty products imported to Vietnam.
However, immediately after announcing the new location, the Russian market encountered many opposing opinions because it was located in the core heritage area of the center of Ho Chi Minh City.
As of the morning of October 19, building No. 125 Hai Ba Trung was still closed. The sign of the Russian market attached to the facade of the building on Hai Ba Trung Street has been removed, while the path through Nguyen Van Binh Book Street is covered with tarpaulin.
Mr. Tran Trong Nghia - Head of the Economic, Infrastructure and Urban Affairs Department of Saigon Ward People's Committee, said that the ward has inspected the project at 125 Hai Ba Trung. After the inspection, the ward noted the repair because the project is located in the core area, adjacent to the relics on the list of relics such as Ho Chi Minh City Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral.
The Department of Culture - Sports (VH-TT) of Ho Chi Minh City has also issued a document responding that the project at 125 Hai Ba Trung has not been classified as a relic and is not on the list of relic sites. Therefore, the renovation and repair are allowed to be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the law on construction.
However, due to the location of the project adjacent to many important relics, the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City recommends that the management unit, Ho Chi Minh City Telecommunications, pay attention to the colors and decorations on the outside of the project, ensuring harmony, avoiding contrast with surrounding relics.
Mr. Tran Trong Nghia added that after inspection, the project is being repaired according to its original state and in accordance with current regulations. "The ward has coordinated with the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City to inspect business units and found that stalls and some items have been arranged. The unit using the premises is Tien Giang Tourism Joint Stock Company, registered with a branch at 125 Hai Ba Trung under the name of Cho Nga Market Trade Center. hanging a signboard of the Russian market may cause misunderstanding that the market. After checking the documents, the ward has requested the removal of the signboard and to comply with advertising regulations" - Mr. Nghia said.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hoi - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, said that the opening of the Russian market next to Nguyen Van Binh book street is a reason for public concern.
This is a sensitive area because it is located in the core heritage area, adjacent to works that are inventoried as relics. We have a plan to invite Ho Chi Minh City Book Company, the Department of Finance, the Department of Industry and Trade, the People's Committee of Saigon Ward and the Propaganda Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee to attend a meeting to clarify the incident" - Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hoi informed.
