Dong Xuan Market was once a vibrant shopping spot in Hanoi. However, the market is now struggling with a stark downturn. Dwindling crowds and sluggish sales have left vendors distressed, forcing many to close their stalls.
It is easy to see shuttered stalls locked up and deserted, with few visitors.
Even by midday, many stalls remain closed; some are temporarily shut, while others have been permanently vacated amid a deepening business slump.
Dong Xuan Market used to have 2,000 stalls spreading across three floors. However, a sharp drop in customers since the COVID-19 pandemic has forced hundreds of vendors to vacate their stalls.
The remaining stalls are deserted, and vendors gather in small groups to wait for customers, creating a despondent atmosphere.
Duong Khanh Van, a clothing vendor who has worked at Dong Xuan Market for over a decade, said that since the Covid-19 pandemic, the market has steadily lost customers. Tourist numbers have fallen by around 80 per cent, and local shoppers have gradually stopped coming.
The market's slump is partly blamed on the rise of online shopping, which has become the preferred choice for wholesale and retail customers.
Only a few foreign tourists visit the market, mostly just walking around some stalls on the first and second floors before leaving.
Once busy with shoppers, many stalls on the first floor are now closed.
Groups of porters linger aimlessly at the market entrance, with few or no jobs available.
