Prices of foods and necessities at traditional markets in HCM City have sharply risen since the lockdown regulation was applied.
Food prices increased in HCM City
Thanh Lan, a resident in District 7, bought seven onions for VND100,000. "The authorities said the prices would not increase but the reality is everything is now more expensive and in short supply. You have to go early," she said.
Pork also increased by VND10,000 to VND20,000 and chicken is in especially short supply. According to the traders, after the three biggest wholesale markets in HCM City were closed, supplies have been scarce, and some ingredients have a short expiry date and the transportation costs have increased.
The prices at supermarkets are lower but many people have to wait for one to two hours in line as supermarkets limit the number of customers. Some people said they ordered online but still couldn't buy everything after two days.
Saigon Co.op said despite various pressures and increasing prices, they have tried to keep the prices stable. However, they have detected some cases in which people bought food at supermarkets in bulk and resold them outside for a profit. As a result, some items at the supermarkets weren't refilled in time.
HCM City Department of Industry and Trade said the three biggest wholesale markets and two-thirds of the markets in HCM City were closed. The department admitted that traders had raised the prices when items were in short supply and demand increased. Moreover, after moving businesses online, traders have to spend more money on petrol which had also increased.
Thu Duc Farmers Market Business Management JSC, the manager of Thu Duc Market, has established an 8,000-square-metre transhipment centre for 1,000-1,500 tonnes of products every night.
Hoc Mon Market also submitted a plan to reopen a part of the market as a transhipment terminal that covers 2,000 square metres for 10 trucks and 100 tonnes of products a day.
