Hundreds of small traders in Hanoi’s Nghia Tan Market gathered around the local government office on May 28 to protest a project to turn the market into a trade centre.
Small traders gather around district government’s office on May 28
They claimed that the project would benefit the investors at the expense of traders.
As planned, Nghia Tan market will be replaced by a nine-storey building, which will include a trade centre and offices space.
Even though the project was officially was started in 2009, the construction has been extremely slow.
One merchant, Truong Thi Khen, said, “The decision by Cau Giay District government to build a nine-storey building to replace the current market is illegal under current laws and regulations. Legally a new market should be between one and three storeys and all operations of the current market must be maintained. Instead, they plan on building a big trade centre with offices for lease.”
According to Khen, when Nghia Tan Market was built in 1994, over 20 traders contributed VND6.5 million (USD311.15) each to have the right to trade in the facility the following year. However, the district government did not ask for their opinion when deciding to build a new trade centre, something which would have serious effects on their livelihoods.
Another small trader at said that some newly-built trade centres in Hang Da and O Cho Dua areas have proven to be inefficient.
Tran Viet Ha, Vice Chairman of the district People’s Committee, said that traders protested because they were not satisfied with benefits offered by the investor.
Ha shared that they will spare the first floor and the basement as a trading venue for the nearly 500 small traders at Nghia Tan market.
Concerning traders’ contributions to the Nghia market’s construction in 1995, Ha said that the municipal government has reviewed the case. They have found no evidence that traders contributed capital to the old market building. The VND6.5 million payment was considered market rental fees for five years.
He noted that the local government and the investor initially planned to build a three-storey building near a nine-storey building, but the proposal was turned down by the traders. They then decided to build only one nine-storey building.
“The project to build a trade centre to replace Nghia Tan Market was made by the municipal government. District authorities were compelled to comply with the new plan. The project was part of the city planning drafted in 2009, which was not subjected to the collection of local residents’ opinions,” he explained.
He added that, despite the traders’ protests, the construction of the trade centre would continue. Any traders who show early co-operation will be granted more favourable locations.
