Hundreds of small traders in Hue City's night market were asked to halt their business to facilitate Hue Festival 2012.

Night market in Hue attracts many tourists

Traders this particular market along Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street prepared for the festival by stocking up on inventory in hopes of higher sales.

But the municipal People's Committee issued a request that all business activities be ceased from April 1-18 to facilitate the festival.

Under the traders’ contracts, they have been allowed to conduct business from 4pm to 11pm daily, including holidays and festivals, and they each pay a monthly fee of VND900,000 (USD43.06). They have sent a petition to the city government to work out a solution to the problem.

On March 31, Mai Hoa Kim Company held a meeting with the traders, but they failed to reach an agreement.

Another meeting was held with the firm on April 4, which provided an outlet for traders to share their views.

Most of the traders complained that the city’s request to halt all business in the area was extremely sudden and put them in a bad situation. The overriding complaint was that it was difficult to predict what municipal authorities would do because their policies do not match what they say.

Nhat Anh, a local trader, said, “We don't have any choice but to comply with the government's decision. But I think that the market operator should share in the burden to offset at least a part of our losses.”

Another trader, Tran Manh Hung, worried about the future of their business. Since it often rains in the city they count on extra income from weekends, holidays and festivals. Hung added that it would be unfair of the city to ban them from selling their wares during the festival while continuing to pay the market operator.

According to Doan Van Huynh, Director of Mai Hoa Kim Company, the market operator, the situation was out of their plan. They have no other choice but to follow the city government’s request. The firm will discuss solutions to compensate for traders in the next five days, he shared.

Some of the traders have said that if the company does not negotiate an agreement that they will take the matter to court.

The Night Market was started on January 3, 2012, but due to the rainy weather, independent businesses working withing the market are only open for about two months, while still having to pay three months in fees to the operator.

At a press conference held on March 27, the city government requested that a wide range of goods be provided during the festival. However they changed their minds just three days later, with the ban on selling in the market.

Hundreds of traders attended the second meeting

Traders demand compensation

Officials from the market operator answer questions

Source: Dtinews