Some economists say they cannot understand why the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) wants to issue a circular on supermarket and shopping center management.

The race for domestic retail market share was heating up as local and foreign firms looked to expand their networks, experts said.

Several supermarkets in Hanoi have run out of food as local people rush to stockpile products amid rising fear of the Coronavirus outbreak.

Sources of essential goods sold at supermarkets are still abundant and the prices of these items are still stable after the Lunar New Year holiday, the Domestic Market Department noted on February 5.

The national steering committee on food safety has set up six inspection teams to check food safety and hygiene for the coming Tet (Lunar New Year) festival.

Mobile vending vans that sell food early in the morning and groceries that provide vegetables and fruits have joined the retail market and become rivals of convenience stores.

Although there is no common formula suitable to all countries, Vietnam still needs to exploit the support and experience of many countries around the world to successfully implement a program on controlling ocean plastic waste, experts say.

Since early 2018, Hanoi’s consumers have been able to scan quick response (QR) codes to trace the origins of agricultural products sold at supermarkets and convenience store

VietNamNet Bridge - There are more than 700 supermarkets in the country, but most Vietnamese are indifferent to the modern retail channel.

 Movements in the market show the fierce ambition of domestic and foreign retailers in acquiring market share.

VietNamNet Bridge - Big changes can be seen in the range of products displayed at supermarkets after the supermarkets fall into new hands.

The ‘pure shopping mall’ has lost its position amid the strong rise of ‘shopping mall complex’, or ‘one-stop shop’. Experts believe that ‘one-stop shops’ will be dominant in the retail market in the future, especially in large cities.

VietNamNet Bridge - Groceries still comprise 80 percent of Vietnam’s fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sales, which shows they remain the most popular and powerful retail channel in Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge - Though foreign investors continue to pour more money into convenience stores in Vietnam, traditional variety stores still prosper.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The considerable potential of Viet Nam's domestic retail market is being actively promoted by large retailers looking to expand their businesses at a faster pace.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vegetables delivered by Ba Chu Safe Vegetables Co., Ltd. have been removed from display racks at BigC, Metro and Lotte Mart, the three biggest supermarket chains in Ha Noi, following a scandal over their origin.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Despite economists’ opposition to the 1,000-supermarket plan proposed by the Hanoi Industry and Trade Department, officials are still determined to go ahead with it.

 A retail network comprising over 1,000 supermarkets and shopping centres is to be built in Hanoi by 2020 to serve the needs of its citizens, Vice Director of Hanoi’s Department of Industry and Trade Tran Thi Phuong Lan has said.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Industry and Trade has decided to develop 1,000 supermarkets and shopping malls in Hanoi in a plan to replace traditional markets with modern distribution channels.