Adapting to the digital age
At Ben Thanh market, trading activities are currently quite bustling. At many stalls selling tea, coffee, confectionery or souvenirs, customers can pay without cash with just a few QR code scans. After scanning the code, the banking application automatically displays the amount to be paid instead of customers having to manually enter it as before. Electronic invoices are also issued immediately after the transaction.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Viet - owner of a dry goods stall at Ben Thanh market - said that about 70-80% of customers currently choose cashless payments. According to Ms. Viet, scanning codes to display the amount of money is not only convenient for customers but also helps small traders easily count revenue, supporting the declaration of revenue and taxes more conveniently.
In addition, many small traders at the market also implemented discount programs from 10-20% to attract customers to shop. Garment tailoring and ao dai fast delivery services within 24 hours also received the attention of many tourists.
Recorded at An Dong market, many fashion, accessory and fabric stalls have proactively switched to combining direct business with online sales to expand customer base. Many small traders invest in building sales channels on social networks, regularly livestreaming product introductions to reach buyers in many provinces and cities.
Ms. Hoang Lan - a small trader at An Dong market - said that online sales help increase orders significantly. "The combination of cashless payments with digital platforms also helps the process of finalizing orders, payment and delivery to be more convenient" - Ms. Lan shared.
Remaking traditional markets
Ho Chi Minh City currently has 405 markets, including 3 wholesale markets and 402 people's markets, along with about 300 supermarkets, 66 shopping centers and more than 3,800 modern retail stores. Although the number of customers coming to traditional markets has tended to decrease in recent years, essential goods such as food, beverages and fresh flowers still maintain stable consumption.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, the city will continue to develop a multi-channel distribution system. In which, traditional markets still play an important role in the circulation of essential goods, especially fresh food to serve the daily needs of people.
Faced with the impact of technology and changes in consumer behavior, Ho Chi Minh City is implementing the project "March model adapting to epidemics and digital transformation", with orientations to the period 2030-2035. The city also encourages small traders to participate in programs to build civilized trade, expand digital payments and improve shopping experiences for both people and tourists.
Mr. Nguyen Nguyen Phuong - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade - said that in the coming time, more new opportunities will be opened up as the field of traditional market management is being reviewed and policy adjustments are being made. Previously, market management activities were carried out according to Decree 02 for more than 20 years and revealed many backward points. Although Decree 60 has been issued to replace it, it is still being researched and adjusted to suit reality. In parallel, Ho Chi Minh City is also building a mechanism for special urban areas, which includes many contents related to the development of traditional markets.
This is considered a favorable time to promote non-cash payment methods. Right from the initial proposal stage, many wards and communes have expressed their willingness to participate if there is a specific pilot model instead of mass deployment. Therefore, the Department of Industry and Trade expects units and organizations to coordinate implementation to take advantage of this opportunity to gradually promote digital transformation in the traditional retail sector.
