Between 2010 and 2021, the number of supermarkets increased to 1,167 supermarkets. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI- Việt Nam will complete policies to develop commercial infrastructure to meet the national socio-economic development needs.

Lê Việt Nga, deputy director of the Domestic Market Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), said the ministry would continue to coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors and localities to review and develop the commercial infrastructure to approve planning, plans and strategies. They will focus on the development of a wholesale market and logistics centre.

The MoIT will continue to review and amend mechanisms and policies relating to commercial infrastructure development because the existing mechanisms and policies have not yet created a breakthrough.

The ministry has been developing a draft of a circular regulating the classification and management of some commercial infrastructure. That will aim at developing further modern commercial infrastructure according to the strategy of developing domestic trade until 2030 with a vision to 2045.

Its statistics show that from 2010 to 2021, the number of supermarkets and trading centres increased rapidly from 567 supermarkets and 95 trading centres in 2010 to 1,167 supermarkets and 254 trading centres.

The number of convenience store chains also has increased strongly in recent years. 

Those changes have shown that the modern commercial infrastructure has been developed while the traditional market system has been upgraded, especially in rural markets. 

Notably, the convenience store system has been thriving in Việt Nam as a small and medium-sized retail model. This is considered an upgraded version of the grocery stores, but they have more advantages, such as saving time and space and better service quality.

However, experts have pointed out a strong development in several markets, supermarkets, trading centres and convenience stores. Still, they do not have synchronous development and are mainly located in urban areas. Besides that, the legal framework for them has not kept pace with the development of commercial infrastructure.

Traditional markets, such as Mơ and Hàng Da markets in Hà Nội, have been rebuilt for a long time, but up to now, they still have many empty kiosks without the excitement as before.

That's because Vietnamese consumers often prioritise convenience. They like sitting on a motorbike to buy food and veggies at a small market along the pavement or a traditional market.

Vũ Vinh Phú, a retail expert, said that there is only Decision 1371/QĐ-BTM dated September 24, 2004, on regulations on developing supermarkets and trading centres. However, those regulations have many outdated and inappropriate points, especially in convenience stores that have only developed strongly in the last five years.

The lack of a legal document relating to the management of convenience stores makes Việt Nam not have clear standards and strategies to encourage the development of convenience stores.

So far, the State management agencies have yet to determine the number of convenience stores nationwide. As a result, he said many consumers, businesses, State management agencies and localities are confused between mini-marts and convenience stores.

All of the above factors make Việt Nam not have a branded convenience store chain, although it has had strong development in several of those stores.

Vũ Thị Hậu, chairwoman of the Việt Nam Retailers Association, said in the context of the growing demand for developing civilised and modern commercial infrastructure, MoIT needs to build regulations on this issue and take consultation from many parties to create a legal corridor for enterprises to invest to those convenience stores.

Last year, the Prime Minister approved a strategy for developing domestic trade in 2030, with a vision for 2045. 

The strategy has set a goal that the revenue of goods and services from modern retail system accounts for about 38-42 per cent of the nation's total retail sales of goods and services, higher than the rate of about 25 per cent at present.

Therefore, the future development of modern commercial infrastructure is forecasted to explode thanks to this commercial development strategy. Legal documents are also necessary to keep up with the development of the market.

Hà Nội has set a goal of developing three trade centres, ten supermarkets and 100 convenience stores, making the trade a high-quality and value-added service sector.

Accordingly, the city will promote investment attraction of commercial infrastructure, including markets, supermarkets, and commercial centres, ensuring compliance with the planning. 

At the same time, it will support businesses in removing difficulties and obstacles to speed up the implementation of new commercial infrastructure projects and rebuilding or renovating markets, supermarkets, and commercial centres.