Yen Nghiep Market (Yen Nghiep Commune, Lac Son District, Hoa Binh Province) started construction around 2018, with an investment capital of 10 billion VND.
Seven years ago, this project was expected to become a bustling trading place, helping to promote local economic and social development.
However, contrary to the expectations "drawn" at that time, until now, this place has become an abandoned land.
On the days before Tet, according to the reporter's records, the market is located at the intersection of Ho Chi Minh road and provincial road 12A Lac Son - Yen Thuy, nearly 1km from the center of Yen Nghiep commune. With an area of nearly 3,000m2, this project is surrounded by brick walls, iron gates and divided into lots for convenient trading.
Currently, this area is overgrown with grass and items such as the guardhouse and fence have also deteriorated over time. Many people in the commune said that since its completion, the market has not been used for a single day.
Unlike markets and shopping centers built in densely populated areas with easy access, this project was built quite far away, nearly 1km from residential areas.
While the billion-dollar market is abandoned and wasted, people have to sit on the sidewalk to trade and sell.
Mr. Bui Van Thanh - who lives near the market - shared: "The market has been built for nearly ten years but no one comes to trade. When construction started, we had high hopes that this would be a bustling trading place, but now that it's finished, it's abandoned, wasting so much state money."
Sharing the same regret, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa - a small trader in the commune - also expressed: "It's difficult to travel but there are no customers, so what's the point of selling?" - Ms. Hoa said.
In particular, according to local people, the government did not consult the community before implementing the project.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Bui Van Lien, Director of the Investment and Construction Project Management Board of Lac Son district, Hoa Binh province, said: "Yen Nghiep commune market was completed in 2018, and has been handed over to Yen Nghiep commune for use and management."
However, according to this leader, he also does not know the reason why the market was built but had no traders and remained empty until now.
