A view of the market (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - It has been eight years since Ly VanHap, a retired official, made use of his ancestors’ land and opened a wetmarket for poor vendors on T1 Street in HCM City’s Tan Phu District.
Before the market launched, many vendors in the area had to sellfood illegally along May 19 Canal.
Their stalls were often removed by authorities, according to Hap,who is known by his nickname Nam Hap.
“People’s lives were miserable then. Since many couldn’t afford topay the fines or set up new stalls, I thought opening a market would be worthdoing,” he said.
Ward authorities also encouraged him to use his ancestors’ land, adecision that he has never regretted.
To be eligible to take part in the market, each vendor pays a 30,000VND (1.3 USD) daily fee for electricity, cleaning and garbage.
“Sometimes, I waive the fee for vendors who can’t pay or for thosestalls that don’t take up much space,” Nam Hap said.
Though his health is not as good as it once was, every morning the70-year-old walks to the market and cleans the floor.
“Vendors are responsible to clean up their own areas, and I ensurethat public spots are free of dirt and trash,” he said.
Though wet markets are typically humid and have walls stained withdirt, Nam Hap’s market is clean, airy and dry because of high ceilings.
“We couldn’t afford high, quality ceilings the first six years,”he said. “It was only one and a half year ago that I collected used corrugatedsheets from a garage in Binh Chanh District and set up the ceilings.”
Now, vendors no longer need to worry about rain dripping fromleaking umbrellas that served as the “roof”.
Nguyen Thi Lun, Nam Hap’s 66-year-old wife, said that maintaining the marketand helping other people were her husband’s chief passions.
Since both of them have experienced financial hardships, Lun and NamHap understand how difficult life can be for poor vendors.
Though they feel lucky to have inherited 800sq.m of land fromtheir grandparents, they were happy to share it with other locals.
Pham Thi Ly, a vendor from the northern province of Nam Dinh,recalled the hard times of the past when she had to often move to another spotto avoid penalties for encroaching on the sidewalk.
“I’m so thankful to have met Nam Hap through my friends. Eversince my small business became more stable six years ago, my family has had ahigher income,” Ly said.
In fact, some vendors have done so well that they have left themarket and bought a house.
Hue, a vendor from the northern province of Bac Ninh, said thenumber of vendors in recent years had fallen to around 20 or 30, from 40 to 50in the past.
“Some vendors were able to buy a house, and others invested theirsavings in a bigger business and left the market,” Hue said.
Her only complaint today is that some vendors in the area stillsell their food illegally on the sidewalk.
“I understand that visitors can find it easier to buy food fromthese vendors since they don’t have to park their bikes. And they can earn moremoney on the sidewalk, so I don’t have the right to ask them to join us,” Nam Hapsaid.
“In the past, there were rumours at times that I launched the market formoney,” he added. But Nam Hap earns only enough to run the market smoothly,while the remaining revenue goes to charity.
“Every year, I organise a holiday trip not only for my family andfriends but also for the vendors,” he said. “We travel to neighbouring citieslike Vung Tau or provinces in the Mekong Delta.”
For those who cannot go, he throws a party in the city.
Besides offering a more stable life to vendors, Nam Hap is proudthat there have been fewer accidents between vendors and pedestrians ormotorists since the sidewalks are now free of vendors.
He isn’t sure about the future of the market, but plans tomaintain it as long as the vendors want it.
“Initially, my family was not fully supportive because they wereafraid we couldn’t take our land back,” he said.
“But years have passed and they’ve all agreed that helping otherpeople while we can is the most important thing.”
Even today, the market has no official name, but everyone calls itNam Hap’s Market, reflecting the respect and love they have for their ownPrince Charming.-VNA
Before the market launched, many vendors in the area had to sellfood illegally along May 19 Canal.
Their stalls were often removed by authorities, according to Hap,who is known by his nickname Nam Hap.
“People’s lives were miserable then. Since many couldn’t afford topay the fines or set up new stalls, I thought opening a market would be worthdoing,” he said.
Ward authorities also encouraged him to use his ancestors’ land, adecision that he has never regretted.
To be eligible to take part in the market, each vendor pays a 30,000VND (1.3 USD) daily fee for electricity, cleaning and garbage.
“Sometimes, I waive the fee for vendors who can’t pay or for thosestalls that don’t take up much space,” Nam Hap said.
Though his health is not as good as it once was, every morning the70-year-old walks to the market and cleans the floor.
“Vendors are responsible to clean up their own areas, and I ensurethat public spots are free of dirt and trash,” he said.
Though wet markets are typically humid and have walls stained withdirt, Nam Hap’s market is clean, airy and dry because of high ceilings.
“We couldn’t afford high, quality ceilings the first six years,”he said. “It was only one and a half year ago that I collected used corrugatedsheets from a garage in Binh Chanh District and set up the ceilings.”
Now, vendors no longer need to worry about rain dripping fromleaking umbrellas that served as the “roof”.
Nguyen Thi Lun, Nam Hap’s 66-year-old wife, said that maintaining the marketand helping other people were her husband’s chief passions.
Since both of them have experienced financial hardships, Lun and NamHap understand how difficult life can be for poor vendors.
Though they feel lucky to have inherited 800sq.m of land fromtheir grandparents, they were happy to share it with other locals.
Pham Thi Ly, a vendor from the northern province of Nam Dinh,recalled the hard times of the past when she had to often move to another spotto avoid penalties for encroaching on the sidewalk.
“I’m so thankful to have met Nam Hap through my friends. Eversince my small business became more stable six years ago, my family has had ahigher income,” Ly said.
In fact, some vendors have done so well that they have left themarket and bought a house.
Hue, a vendor from the northern province of Bac Ninh, said thenumber of vendors in recent years had fallen to around 20 or 30, from 40 to 50in the past.
“Some vendors were able to buy a house, and others invested theirsavings in a bigger business and left the market,” Hue said.
Her only complaint today is that some vendors in the area stillsell their food illegally on the sidewalk.
“I understand that visitors can find it easier to buy food fromthese vendors since they don’t have to park their bikes. And they can earn moremoney on the sidewalk, so I don’t have the right to ask them to join us,” Nam Hapsaid.
“In the past, there were rumours at times that I launched the market formoney,” he added. But Nam Hap earns only enough to run the market smoothly,while the remaining revenue goes to charity.
“Every year, I organise a holiday trip not only for my family andfriends but also for the vendors,” he said. “We travel to neighbouring citieslike Vung Tau or provinces in the Mekong Delta.”
For those who cannot go, he throws a party in the city.
Besides offering a more stable life to vendors, Nam Hap is proudthat there have been fewer accidents between vendors and pedestrians ormotorists since the sidewalks are now free of vendors.
He isn’t sure about the future of the market, but plans tomaintain it as long as the vendors want it.
“Initially, my family was not fully supportive because they wereafraid we couldn’t take our land back,” he said.
“But years have passed and they’ve all agreed that helping otherpeople while we can is the most important thing.”
Even today, the market has no official name, but everyone calls itNam Hap’s Market, reflecting the respect and love they have for their ownPrince Charming.-VNA
VNA
