This crumbling mess is why hundreds of Saigon vendors are protesting

By Quynh Tran   September 22, 2017 | 12:04 am PT
Repair work has been delayed on the city's main wet market despite vendors paying authorities $9.5 million to get started.
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An Dong Market, one of the biggest in Saigon, was built in 1954 in District 5. The current market was rebuilt in 1991 and was paid for by the vendors.

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The market has fallen into disrepair over the decades. More than 2,300 vendors paid authorities VND217 billion ($9.5 million) to upgrade the building, but the project has remained on paper for four years, prompting a large protest on Tuesday.

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Broken glass windows means vendors have to rush to put up barriers when there’s a heavy rain. “We stretch a canvas across but we still get wet,” said a woman who has been selling clothes at the market for many years. The five-story market is home to more than 2,500 stalls selling a wide variety of goods ranging from fabrics and clothing to dried foods and handicrafts.

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A paneless, rusty windowframe.

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One of the pillars.

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Part of the market is soaked after heavy rain. “When it rains, our stalls get messy and customers are not interested in coming,” a 48-year-old vendor said.

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A staircase handrail on the second floor has broken off.

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Old and broken tiles.

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A piece of mortar has worn off.

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Vendors said the poor conditions are keeping customers away, causing their revenues to drop by half. Some have closed and offered to rent out their stalls.

 
 
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