In order to meet the needs of people for food during the implementation of social distancing to prevent the pandemic, many solutions to open up the supply chain of goods in Ho Chi Minh City have been implemented, such as increasing mobile sales points, distributing vouchers and ordering online.

People buy goods at mobile sales points in Binh Thanh district. Photo T.D 

Pilot reopening of traditional markets

On July 19, people who went to Binh Thoi market (District 11) registered to go to the market through an online system. Mr. Nguyen Ba Tung, Head of Binh Thoi Market Management Board, said that households wishing to shop at the market will register a phone number with the switchboard and use this phone number to register for a shopping schedule. According to the registration list, the management will arrange for people to go to the market every other day to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to shop.

Previously, since the market was reopened on July 16, the management board distributed coupons and each phase only had a maximum of 100 people allowed to shop.

Currently, Binh Thoi market has 80 business households and only operates four hours from 4am to 12pm. In which, 4am is for small businesses to clear goods, starting from 5am to 11am for customers going to the market. From 11am to 12pm is the time for small business people to take a break. From 2pm to 3pm, the market will completely disinfect to ensure safety for the next business day.

In addition to Binh Thoi market, Ho Chi Minh City has piloted reopening four traditional markets according to social distancing measures and only selling essential food items such as vegetables, fruits and fresh goods, including: Phu Tho market, Nguyen Tri market Phuong (District 11), Hanh Thong Tay Market (Go Vap District) and Ba Bau Market (District 12). It is expected that next week, 13 traditional markets will be reopened to sell fresh products.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, in order to support the current overloaded supermarket and convenience store system, the city will restore the operation of traditional markets in relatively safe areas. Each market will not reopen completely, but only select a few small traders who are capable of organizing activities with the model of selling points of fresh goods, vegetables, fruits, meat and fish, to increase the supply points of goods in the area.

Along with reopening many traditional markets for fresh vegetables and fresh goods, the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City also suggested districts to implement an online sales model at many traditional markets of Phu Lam, Minh Phung, Binh Tay, and Tan Hoa Dong.

Currently, the market management board has connected and deployed to small traders to maintain the supply of goods to people by selling by phone, small traders register with the Information Management Board to participate in sales. On the side of small businesses, they have also registered to participate in sales on Zalo, Facebook and the market's fanpage, showing full phone numbers and contact addresses.

Pork is sold at the price of VND120,000-130,000 per kg
at the Foodshare Market program

Hundreds of goods supply points

Present early at the mobile sales point of the Foodshare Market program at 67 Nguyen Huu Canh (Ward 22, Binh Thanh District) on the morning of July 19, Ms. Duong Thi Nhuan said that she bought enough food in one week for the family at a stable price compared to the market. Especially, you can buy pork for the same price from VND120,000 - 130,000 per kg. At the store, they also sell combos of VND20,000 and VND30,000 per kg of all kinds of vegetables, VND30,000 per pack of 10 eggs.

Mr. Nguyen Tuan Khoi, in charge of the program, said that this is a "stable food" selling point set up by the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City. The program focuses strongly on selling food combos that can be used for three days, five days and one week with the lowest stable price but still ensures everyone involved in the supply chain, including farmers, producers, carriers, consumers and operators. Each combo will include essential items such as rice, vegetables, eggs, fish and meat, processed products, and fruits. In addition to selling at a stable price, the management board said that there are also free combos for people in need from donations from individuals and charities.

A representative of AEON Vietnam supermarket system said that the business has worked with suppliers to increase the amount of fresh food (vegetables, tubers, fruits, meat, fish) by 400-600%, as well as dry food by 200- 400%. This helps to avoid shortages or unreasonable prices.

Responding to the program, many businesses in different fields have connected and formed supply chains. With this supply chain, people will have access to stable distribution channels with a scale of more than 1,000 additional selling points, including 1,000 points of sale of Vinshop, 150 points of sale of Con Cung system, and 67 points of sale of Guardian Vietnam Company, 300 points of sale of Pharmacity, 36 points of sale of Nhat Tin Development Trading Investment Company. Vo So E-commerce platform (belonging to Viettel Post) currently provides goods such as food, vegetables, tubers, fruits and necessities at 34 post offices, in 18 districts of Ho Chi Minh City.

In addition, the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City has coordinated with major e-commerce sites such as Tiki, Shopee, and Lazada to promote the sale of vegetables and fruits on these platforms, helping the city's residents access more than the channel of food supply and distribution during the implementation of social distancing according to Directive 16.