Gasoline prices surged 30 percent within a year to a record high forcing consumers to tighten their belts, while merchants and companies experienced additional losses.

Việt Nam’s retail market is becoming a magnet for investors thanks to such favourable conditions as political stability, transparent capital control and large market size.

Some 230 businesses are displaying a wide range of products at the 2021 Promotion Fair which opened in HCM City on December 21.

About 47 out of 234 traditional markets in HCM City with traders of fresh food, dry food and essential goods have opened.

Prices of many foods, including eggs and meat, have dropped by a quarter, and those of certain vegetables by half, after HCMC loosened social distancing on Oct. 1.

Surging prices of essential goods are worsening the difficulties for people who have already been hit by job losses and travel restrictions.

HCM City is planning to reopen traditional markets after carrying out research on safety measures for workers and the public.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has called for reopening traditional markets across the country after people working there are vaccinated.

Prices of eggs, fish and seafood sold online are surging in Ho Chi Minh City due to rising transportation costs and limited mobility between localities.