These days, at wholesale markets and retail outlets in Ho Chi Minh City, the buying and selling atmosphere has begun to become more bustling as the amount of goods is continuously replenished overnight.
Recorded at Thu Duc wholesale agricultural market, trucks entered and exited bustlingly from the previous night to the early morning of the next day, serving the supply for traditional markets and retail systems in the city.
Mr. Duong Thai - a fruit trader at Thu Duc market - said that purchasing power has clearly increased, especially for Tet items such as grapefruit and mangoes. "Goods arrive quite regularly but transportation costs increase due to traffic jams, so traders have to calculate carefully to maintain stable prices for customers. We also increase by 2-3 people per night to promptly prepare orders and deliver goods" - Mr. Thai shared.
From the perspective of a supplier, Ms. Pham Thi Thu Hong - General Director of SAFOCO Food Joint Stock Company, said that in the period near Tet, traffic congestion caused each transport vehicle to only carry out about one trip per day, incurring costs and prolonging delivery time. Faced with this pressure, the business has adjusted the distribution plan, increased support personnel at points of sale, extended delivery time to 10 pm every day and supplemented the delivery force by motorbike to ensure goods are supplemented in time on shelves.
Records at retail outlets show that many stores are also recruiting seasonal personnel to meet the increased shopping demand during Tet.
We have to recruit more personnel so that service is not interrupted during peak days" - Ms. Le Phuong Thao - manager of a fresh fruit store in Ho Chi Minh City - said. According to Ms. Thao, seasonal workers are mainly arranged in the stages of cashier, arranging, supplementing goods and supporting customers during crowded buying hours in the afternoon and evening.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Van Huyen - General Director of Thu Duc Agricultural Products Market Management and Trading Company - said that the unit has issued notices to drivers and cargo owners, and at the same time broadcast guidance content on the market's loudspeaker system for traders to proactively arrange vehicles and bring goods to the market during the day. This measure aims to limit traffic congestion in the market area and on National Highway 1A during the nighttime peak hours in the days leading up to Tet.
According to Mr. Huy, during the Tet peak season, the amount of goods arriving at the market increased by about 70-120% compared to normal days, leading to a sharp increase in the number of transport vehicles while the capacity of the wharf and yard is limited. Therefore, the Tam Binh ward government has supported arranging for goods trucks to park in Binh Chieu residential area during the peak days from December 25 to 27, contributing to reducing traffic pressure and ensuring smooth loading and unloading and goods circulation.
