Hanoi urged to look for suitable models for traditional markets | Look At Vietnam

Hanoi urged to look for suitable models for traditional markets

July 9, 2012

LookAtVietnam – Upgrading the operational traditional markets into modern
ones is a must. However, it is necessary to find out a suitable model for the
new markets.

The Dong Xuan Market in Hanoi

Hanoians refuse to go shopping at modern markets
Despite the failures, Hanoi authorities still insist on renovating the
traditional market network, trying to turn them into modern markets, suitable to
a modern capital city.
Hanoi’s initiative of setting up building blocks for all traditional markets,
shopping malls and working offices in one has tasted the failure. The modern Cua
Nam market in Hoan Kiem district is a typical example. It cannot attract
housewives since the day it began operation.
Hanoi has also failed with the project on building Hang Da market, because it
“tried to build a new market with old way of thinking.” Meanwhile, the Mo market
is still being built the same way.
“New markets have been built under the mode of modern building blocks with thick
wall, glass doors which are “as secret as a grave.” However, the markets have
been left deserted and cold,” Nguyen Van Dung, an architect, commented.
While the heavily invested modern markets remain quiet with few visitors, the
nearby sales points have always been crowded and bustling, from early in the
morning to late in the evening.
“It’s a pity that to date, the unreasonable thoughts about the modern markets
still exist,” Dung added.
Hanoi’s authorities vow to renovate the existing traditional markets, but they
have not listened to the voice of the public. Meanwhile, in principle, the
opinions of salesmen and customers need to be respected when the city’s
localities consider the plans to upgrade the markets.
Which models for Hanoi’s traditional markets?
While the city’s leaders still discuss to find out suitable models for Hanoi’s
markets, experts point out that the Dong Xuan Market in Hanoi, or Ben Thanh and
An Dong Markets in HCM City are the success stories of renovating markets.
According to the management board of the Dong Xuan Market, while other modern
markets like Hang Da and Cua Nam have been keeping consumers away, Dong Xuan has
been developing in a sustainable way.
It is because, unlike the shopping malls and supermarkets, clean and shiny, with
a lot goods, mostly high grade and expensive products, Dong Xuan is the market,
where people can find everything they need, from low cost to high quality
products.
“The key is that the goods prices here fit the pockets of the majority of
people. Everyone can go to Dong Xuan market, from low income to high income
earners. As such, Dong Xuan target a wider range of customers than modern
markets,” a representative of Dong Xuan Market’s board of management said.
He went on to say that the investors should not only try to earn money, but also
need to pay attention to the influences of the markets to the socio-economic
life.
Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Industry and Trade also said that
though the city has modern shopping malls, supermarkets, convenience stores, it
also has 243 traditional markets which have been playing a very important role
in the life of the city’s residents.
The merchants at An Dong Market, one of the biggest traditional markets in HCM
City, pays 60 billion dong to the city’s budget every year, a very satisfactory
result in the context of economic recession.
As such, Hanoi absolutely can have modern markets while no need to eliminate
traditional markets. However, in order to do that, it’s necessary to find out
suitable models for the markets.
Source: VnMedia

HCM city's High Rise buildings ruin environment

High-rise buildings ruin HCM city’s environment

October 19, 2011  about Uncategorized

The number of skyscraper projects in downtown HCMC is on the uptrend and the public is afraid the overwhelming presence of these structures will badly effect the city’s environment.

According to statistics from property firms, dozens of high-rise office buildings, shopping centers and hotels will be built on a number of main streets in the city center.
For instance, the scheme Ben Thanh Towers belonging to Bitexco Group is set to be constructed in front of Ben Thanh Market, a long-standing market with the southern gate considered the city’s symbol.
As planned, the towers will be built on an area of 8,600 square meters, bordering the four streets of Calmette, Le Thi Hong Gam, Pho Duc Chinh and Pham Ngu Lao in District 1. The towers, including two 55-storey towers of rental apartments, office spaces and shopping centers, are set to be finished in 2015.
Not far away from Ben Thanh Towers is Saigon Hospital located between Le Loi and Huynh Thuc Khang Street where a hotel project is scheduled to be built by Bitexco in the near future.
Meanwhile, Saigontourist Holding Co., and one subsidiary of Gemadept Corporation have plans to turn the 5,600-square meter area next to the above hotel project into a complex scheme with 30,000 square meters for office space and a five-star hotel with 400 rooms.
In front of this high-rise building project is the SJC Tower scheme with an estimated height of over 50 floors.
Singapore-based Keppel Land Ltd. Co., is deploying the second phase of the Saigon Center project with 45 floors next to the existing 25-storey building at the corner of Le Loi and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street. When in place, the building will be used as retail centers, office and apartments.
A 40-storey building  is to be constructed next to the Eden complex at the corner of Le Loi-Nguyen Hue Boulevard, while the 40-storey BIDV building is under construction. The Times Square scheme with two 36-storey towers will be completed soon and the 68-storey Bitexco Financial Tower has just been opened recently.
In reality, the presence of high-rise buildings has gradually improved the cityscape in the center. However, there are concerns that the already horrendous transport situation will get even worse when these buildings are put into use and attract thousands of more people who go shopping and come to work on a daily basis.
An expert said that developing skyscrapers in downtown HCMC would create more pressure on the infrastructure system of transport, electricity and telecommunications, as well as traffic congestion and a polluted environment.
Since realty service businesses have mushroomed in the city center, the number of people flocking to the area is obviously on the rise.
This will likely create a great challenge for urban administrators to balance benefits of granting construction licenses for skyscrapers, transport infrastructure works and preserving the city’s symbolic architecture, the expert added.
SGT

Boat capsizes, 40 die in central Vietnam

An estimated 40 people drowned when an overloaded boat capsized on Gianh River in central Vietnam early Sunday morning. Thirty-five other passengers were rescued or managed to swim to safety.
Witnesses said the small boat could have been carrying over 80 people, mostly women and children. Authorities of Quang Hai and Quang Thach communes of Quang Binh Province, where the accident happened, are searching the river for more victims.
The Tuoi Tre newspaper quoted Colonel Nguyen Quoc Tri, head of the Quang Binh Military Command, as saying the boat’s capacity was about 40 people.
The boat’s owner, Nguyen Xuan Qui of Quang Hai, has been summoned by the local police for interrogation, VnExpress newswire reports.
Witnesses told Thanh Nien many passengers were going shopping for the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival from Quang Hai, on the south side of the river, to a market in Quang Thach. The Lunar New Year falls on January 26 this year.
Tuoi Tre quoted a witness as saying the boat also carried many bicycles, goods and a cow.
The boat capsized in the middle of the 50-meters wide river where it is 15 – 20 meters deep. None of its six lifebuoys were used, possibly because the accident happened very fast.
VnExpress quoted Cao Thi Huong, a 39-year-old survivor, as saying there were strong waves in the middle of the river.
Tran Cong Thuat, Vice chairman of the Quang Binh People’s Committee, told Tuoi Tre the province has canceled the fireworks display planned to welcome the Lunar New Year, adding the accident was “too great a loss.”
Reported by Thanh Nien staff

Christmas Fever Vietnam

Vietnam has taken to celebrating the season of Santa and plum puddings with a vengeance.
Santa Claus and Xmas trees have become so familiar with Vietnamese over the past decade that neither families nor companies are skimping on their Christmas budgets despite the global economic recession.
Purchasing decorations for Xmas and New Year celebrations, reserving parties at hotels, karaoke restaurants and cabarets or booking tours to romantic destinations are some of the most popular plans for the festive season in Vietnam.
Season preparations began last month in all of Vietnam’s big cities with Santa Clauses smiling at the entrance to shopping malls and Christmas lights illuminating the main streets.
"Christmas is an opportunity to go out with family and friends rather than a time for religious reflection," says 24-year-old Hoang, who plans to spend Christmas night at HCMC’s Lush Bar with his friends.
HCMC began preparations a month earlier than Hanoi which saw its first reindeer and pine trees at the beginning of December.
Most hotels and big shops in the capital’s main streets like Hang Ma, Luong Van Can, Hang Ngang and Hang Dao are colorfully decked out. Decorations on sale are mostly produced locally or imported from China with Xmas trees the top seller despite the 100 percent price rise from last year.
According to the sales department of Hanoi’s Big C Supermarket, the Xmas trees covered in white snow are among the favorites with an average of 30-50 trees sold per day.
Van Tinh, a vendor on Luong Van Can Street, tells a customer, “One 90-centimeter-high tree costs at least VND120,000 (US$7). The 3.6-meter is VND2 million ($117) and the 6-meter is VND12 million ($700).”
But trees don’t look beautiful without a pair of bells for VND100,000- 400,000 ($5.9-23.6).
Tinh says he has a diverse range of Santa Clauses priced from VND150,000-1.8 million (US$8.90-106), depending on size. Santa Claus outfits cost from VND30,000-150,000 ($1.8-8.9) per set.
Unlike families who are eager to do their own decorations, large hotels, restaurants and organizations often hire local private businesses to do their decorations professionally.
Ba Son, owner of a shop in Ba Trieu Street, says “We have a dozen staff who are responsible for designing, decorating and giving consultancy to customers. We charge between $20-300 for small- to middle-sized contracts, and about a thousand dollars for a big one which might take a couple of days to complete.”
In both cities, top hotels like Sofitel Plaza, Sheraton and Legend, are well-prepared to serve thousands of guests with buffet prices ranging from $25-80 per adult and a discount of up to 50 percent. The hospitality sector in the cities is advertising great food, service and entertainment including parties, music and circus shows, Santa Claus gift offerings and lucky draws, in an effort to attract more tourists.
There are also plenty of restaurants for the more economy-minded available with special menus for families and friends’ get-togethers.
The three nights before Christmas Eve at many well-known hotels, Karaoke restaurants and bars are already fully booked for parties.
The Christmas crowds create a slow-moving traffic snarl across the city center v
In Hanoi, all the parks and clubs have organized games and extravaganzas to draw young crowds with tickets for no more than $10.
Dam Sen Theme Park in HCMC has ordered a huge cake expected to serve thousands of visitors on Christmas Eve.
More shopping
Festive store windows everywhere in the cities make shopping malls and supermarkets colorful and lively. With more sales and promotions, shopping is the biggest attraction for youngsters.
Twenty-five-year-old My Lien, who just spent two hours at HCMC’s Diamond Plaza says, "I always buy more things at Christmas and New Year than at any other times because many shops offer significant discounts."
On university campuses, the Christmas spirit is even stronger. Beautiful Christmas trees, gifts, cards and posters announcing parties are everywhere. Students plan their activities long before Christmas with many heading to churches to spend their Christmas Eve.
Since the beginning of December hundreds of people have filled Catholic churches in downtown areas nightly, with crowds starting at sunset for the 9.30 p.m. services.
Foreigners in Vietnam, on the other hand, tend to go to bars or hold small parties at home on Christmas Eve.
Andy, a young Swiss guy says, "The Christmas atmosphere here in HCMC is great but completely different from what is going on in my hometown."
“Last year, when I first came to Vietnam, I was astonished at the traffic jams and the procession of thousands of people on the streets that lead to the Cathedral Church. I wonder why you guys have to flock out onto the street,” says Andy.
Hooked on traveling
Besides many families who enjoy Christmas in the metros, more than a few foreigners and Vietnamese choose to travel to Central Highlands towns like Da Lat, Kontum, or Sapa in the nation’s central and northern regions to spend the year-end in relative serenity.
Booking a four-day private tour to Da Lat with his wife and two sons, Vietnamese American Chris Nguyen says, “We need some time to enjoy the fresh air and calmness. We have lived almost 360 days in all the noise and stress of the bustling cities.”
Most local travel agencies say they have seen a decline in foreign tourists within the last three months but domestic travelers do not seem too bothered by the global economic recession.
According to representatives of top companies like Saigontourist, Ben Thanh Tourist and Fiditour, their special tours are almost booked out.
Reported by Thuy Tien

Travel: Face to Face with Ho Chi Minh

IF you're in a foreign country but only have a couple of hours to spare for leisure, why not do what most Malaysians do best — go shopping.And if you happen to find yourself in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh city, you'll be hard-pressed not to shop given the ample opportunities to pick up beautiful local handicraft at bargain prices as I discovered recently during a short stay there.Once known as Saigon, the city retains much of its colonial past in terms of its striking architecture and beautiful parks with majestic statues, which are almost standard features everywhere.But this is also a city that's a shopper's haven given that Ho Chi Minh offers both uniquely Vietnamese souvenirs as well as regular clothing, shoes and handbags at low prices.If you're lucky enough to be staying in District 1 of the city in the Lam Son Square as I did, you'll find that many of the shops are just a few minutes' walk away, including the city's famous Ben Thanh market.One of Ho Chi Minh's most famous landmarks, Ben Thanh is said to be the oldest and largest market in the city.It's located right smack in the middle of the district, and has been in existence since the French occupation of the country.It was originally located on the shores of the Ben Nghe river by the old Gia Dinh fort. Its proximity to the fort and the river where merchants and soldiers would land gave it its name. Ben stands for pier or port in Vietnamese and Thanh means fort.From the Park Hyatt Saigon where I was staying, the market was a short ten minutes' drive by taxi, but for those who don't mind walking, you can make your way along the city's shady pavements and take in some sights along the way.This indoor market, which I was told opens as early as 6am, is both well planned and relatively spacious compared to some bazaars in other Southeast Asian countries.The building housing the market has four gates and is filled with more than 1,500 stalls. Once inside, be prepared for a hive of activity as both locals and foreigners alike source for bargains from traders, who sell everything from fabric, shoes and clothes to lacquer ware, porcelain plates and bowls, beaded handbags and shawls, dried fish and shrimp, and pickled fruit.At first glance it may seem chaotic, but with traders offering similar products huddled together, there is some semblance of order.So, if you're looking for Vietnam's famous embroidered tablecloths and bedsheets for example, you'll be able to pick and choose and compare prices from several traders.Don't be surprised if some of them greet you with a selamat pagi or apa khabar the minute they find out you're from Malaysia. This is one place where we have obviously left our mark.Bargaining is of course standard practice but as I discovered, many traders already have a price in mind for you and sometimes, no amount of cajoling will get them to lower their rate.But given that prices are at least 50 per cent cheaper than what we would pay for similar items in Kuala Lumpur, it's not difficult to walk away feeling satisfied with your purchases.Vietnamese currency can take some getting used to though, and you may find yourself fumbling a little with notes of large denominations.Converting money to ringgit can be tiresome given the multiple zeros of the Dong currency. Traders are naturally more than happy to accept the same value for their goods in US dollars.Embroidery and beadwork are certainly the hallmarks of Vietnamese handicraft and such skilled work is reflected in everything, from elegant traditional wear, the au dai, to shoes, bags and T-shirts.Many of the traders selling fabric have links to tailors and they can have your clothes ready for fitting within a day or two.But be mindful of taking pictures in the market without first seeking permission as some traders don't seem to be happy about having their stalls photographed and even go to the extend of blocking your view as you focus your camera.When politely asked for a photo to be taken, most oblige but one female trader took me by surprise when she said she charged for photographs. Needless to say, I wasn't too interested in her stall after that.By mid-afternoon, it can get really stuffy in Ben Thanh and if you've only just started your shopping, be prepared to sweat it out as it becomes extremely humid inside despite the electric fans whirring away at every stall.By about 7pm, Ben Thanh closes for the day but the excitement doesn't end for those looking for a bargain: some traders set up stalls on the streets outside the market, offering yet another shopping experience for the eager tourist.* The writer was in Ho Chi Minh for the launch of the Nokia Supernova range of phones.