Ninh Hiep market in Gia Lam district is home to nearly 4,000 households. The market has largely been left deserted over recent times, in contrast to in previous years. Many fashion outlets close after the Lunar New Year, known as locally as Tet holiday. Sellers at work have plenty of free time as they lack customers. Some stores offer big discounts in a bid to attract customers. Some staff members use their phones to play games or chat to pass away the time. The sluggish business situation leads to many traders becoming depressed. Many store owners state that there has been a downturn in customers compared to previous years. This can largely be put down to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a great influence on the economy, with less families spending money on buying essential goods. Store owners have also been forced to reduce imports of goods, although many items remain on the shelves.