Nguyễn Thị Huyền has been trading fruit in the Mường Thanh market area for many years. While waiting for the new facility to be built, she traded in the temporary market; it was hot and dusty when sunny, and squelchy and dirty when rainy. Now moving to the new market, she happily and excitedly shared: “As soon as there was a policy to enter the new market, I registered and moved my goods in to open the stall. The market space is airy and spacious, the cement floor is clean, with less worry about sun, wind, and dust. Although in the early days, regular customers did not know the location of my stall so the number of customers decreased, I believe it will soon stabilize again, attracting more shoppers.”

Trịnh Thị Hồng, who trades in seafood, also moved in to open a counter at the new market from the very first days. The nature of the area selling aquatic products and seafood requires frequent use of water to prep fish, shrimp, squid... Previously in the temporary market, it was a dirt floor; when prepping food for customers or when it rained, there was no drainage, so it was easily muddy and slushy, making many customers hesitate to stop and buy. “Now moving into the new market, it is clean, spacious, and has many entrance gates convenient for people to visit and shop; I feel assured and focus on trading,” Hồng shared.

According to the plan, the Mường Thanh market pavilion area is arranged with nearly 300 business stalls, divided into many different commodity areas, such as: fresh goods, dry goods, vegetables and fruits, pre-processed food... creating convenience for buyers and sellers. After learning, registering, and drawing lots to select business locations in early November, small traders quickly prepared goods and stabilized their positions at the market. Most small traders at the old market and temporary market have moved into the new market to trade. To date, this central area has been basically filled. Regarding the kiosks, some units have also started business operations. Small traders proactively completed facilities, equipment, arranged goods, and opened kiosk doors. The whole market area, buyers and sellers are bustling, gradually creating a habit of entering the market to buy and sell, limiting spontaneous trading on the roadside and sidewalk.

To ensure the market operates in an orderly manner, the Management Board of Mường Thanh Tourism Market also focuses on reminding, guiding, and supervising activities at the market, ensuring trading activities take place stably right from the first days. Nguyễn Xuân Chiến from the Market Management Board, said: “We try to create conditions for people to enter the market to trade in the most favorable way, both in terms of stall location and ensuring electricity and water supply to meet business needs. Along with that, maintaining a team to remind people to park vehicles and place goods in the prescribed places, keeping the environment clean and the space airy. Reminding small traders to strictly obey the rules set by the market management board. Although confusion is unavoidable in the early days, basically individuals and business households have implemented the regulations well.”

The completion and operation of the Mường Thanh Tourism Market project not only creates a stable trading space, promoting commercial and tourism activities in the area; but also improves urban aesthetics, solves the problem of spontaneous business, and improves the environment of the existing market area... At the same time, with a central location, adjacent to historical relics and famous destinations such as A1 Hill, Mường Thanh Bridge, Điện Biên Phủ Victory Museum... Mường Thanh Tourism Market is expected to attract tourists for sightseeing and shopping.