Returning to Dong Dang market - nearly 10 years after the evacuation order

People lined up to protest

Located in the middle of the border town, Dong Dang traditional market (also called old Dong Dang market to distinguish it from the TTTM - Dong Dang Market project) is the busiest market in the Lang Son border area with bustling buyers and sellers.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien - a business owner - shared: "In the past, the government advocated for a new market, but everyone opposed it. Only a few households in hidden stalls with few customers agreed to move out. Now, seeing the closed and deserted scene at Dong Dang Market - Shopping Center, we see that our decision was somewhat correct."

According to Ms. Hien, when the construction of the new market began in 2015, traders at the old Dong Dang market were encouraged to move. The land at the traditional market would be used for flower gardens and green trees. However, they did not agree and knocked on doors everywhere hoping to stay.

Besides, preferential policies for small traders are not suitable, market construction and relocation are not transparent, and do not create consensus among the people.

Ms. Hien recalled the days of going back and forth nearly 10 years ago. The incident reached its peak when hundreds of small traders went on strike, gathering in front of the gate of the Lang Son Provincial People's Committee headquarters, requesting to meet the Chairman of the province to discuss the market transfer.

"The traditional market is located in the town center, near Dong Dang Temple, so visitors often combine sightseeing, worship and shopping. So although the number of visitors is not as large as before, it is still bustling in the first months of the year, the end of the year and the temple festival month," said Ms. Hien.

The old market is bustling, the new market is deserted.

About 1km from Dong Dang traditional market is the Dong Dang Market - Trade Center project - which was expected to be the busiest commercial complex in the border area.

According to observation, this complex is located in an extremely favorable location, at the intersection of Dong Dang town towards Huu Nghi border gate and the road to Dong Dang International Station, to Coc Nam border gate, Tan Thanh border gate.

But contrary to expectations, most of the shops in the shopping mall were closed and covered with tarpaulins. The scene was deserted and desolate.

Both the inside and outside of the 3-storey building located in the middle of prime border land have shown signs of deterioration, with spider webs covering it due to long-term disuse. The front yard has become a parking lot.

Currently, trading activities only take place in the rows of corrugated iron houses next to the 3-storey building, but it is also quite sluggish.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan’s household appliances stall also seemed to have no customers. The plastic sheets covering fans, study lamps and some other items were covered with a thick layer of dust.

"There were periods when the store could not be opened for 3 days, and there were even no customers coming, the market was deserted. Without customers, the commercial area gradually closed from the 3rd floor, down to the 2nd floor, and now the 1st floor" - Mr. Tuan sadly said.

According to Lao Dong's investigation, after the peak of the market relocation campaign (in 2017), there were times when the shopping mall attracted more than 100 traders from the old market and other places to do business. However, there were about 200 traders at the old market who refused to move.

According to the investor, the total initial investment capital was expected to be over 300 billion VND with 800 kiosks. The lack of support from the traders caused the shopping mall to suffer heavy losses, with insufficient revenue to cover expenses, leading to the decision to close the entire shopping mall building and move the traders to a corrugated iron building on the side, called Dong Dang night market.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Luu Quang Cong - Vice Chairman of Dong Dang Town People's Committee said that up to now, there are still two parallel markets: Dong Dang traditional market and Dong Dang Market - Trade Center. Mr. Cong confirmed that business at Dong Dang Market - Trade Center is much worse than that of the traditional market.