Vincom Plaza shopping center in the city meets the shopping, entertainment, and leisure needs of the people.

The City Party Committee issued Project No. 07-DA/TU on August 20, 2020, on the development of trade, services, tourism, and brand building for the city's key products. This project aims to create a favorable environment for businesses and cooperatives to build chains of convenience stores, supermarkets, and points for showcasing OCOP products and distinctive products in a synchronized and modern manner. It also aims to attract investment in market construction according to planning; transform market management and operation models; and guide households in registering for mobile vending businesses using vehicles in planned public locations.

The city has 1 Vincom Plaza shopping center; 1 Vinmart supermarket chain, 9 Winmart+; 9 specialized supermarkets (electronics, mobile devices); 33 convenience stores and general merchandise stores; and 4 stores showcasing specialty products and OCOP products. Along with 13 traditional markets, supermarkets, shopping centers, convenience stores, self-service stores, and chain retail systems operating throughout the city are rapidly increasing in number and scale, effectively meeting the shopping and consumption needs of the people.

Winmart+ convenience stores in the city are doing a good job of serving the consumer needs of the people.

Ms. Lo Thi Oanh, a customer at WinMart+ store on Truong Chinh Street, City, said: "My family regularly shops here because the goods are diverse, have clear origins, are reasonably priced, and there are frequent promotions to stimulate consumer demand."

To boost trade promotion activities, the city, in coordination with the Department of Industry and Trade, organized trade fairs; supported connections for businesses and cooperatives to participate in exhibitions, introductions, and promotions of typical and distinctive products. At the same time, the city completed the construction of an e-commerce platform on the "Son La Smart" platform; introduced 66 products from 15 units to participate in e-commerce platforms; and implemented the Market 4.0 model at the Central Market, 7/11 Market, Chieng An Market, Goc Phuong Market, and Rang Tech Market, with 100% of fixed business households in the markets having installed cashless payment acceptance points.

Ms. Nguyen Hai Yen, a household goods vendor at the City Central Market, said: "Using cashless payment methods is very convenient for me. I don't have to worry about small change or losing money. Before, at the end of the day, I had to sit and count the money and record the sales, which was prone to errors. Now, everything is displayed on my phone, and I can check immediately how much I sold today."

People shopping at the City Central Market.

Accordingly, the city has directed functional forces to monitor and understand the market situation to implement plans that are closely aligned with reality; established inspection teams to check the origin, labeling, invoices, and quality declarations of goods; enforced price listing and selling at listed prices for goods subject to price stabilization; inspected food safety, e-commerce activities, etc. At the same time, it detected and handled violations in business, trade, and service activities, contributing to market stability and protecting consumer rights.

Mr. Doan Van Thang, Head of the City's Economic Department, stated: The total retail sales and consumer service revenue of the city have both increased annually, reaching 11,420 billion VND in 2024, an increase of 11.8% compared to 2020. The goal for 2025 is to achieve a total retail sales and consumer service revenue of 12,139 billion VND.

In its orientation for the development of trade and services in the coming years, the city prioritizes allocating land in areas with commercial advantages to attract investment in the construction of appropriately sized supermarkets, convenience stores, franchise stores, or chain businesses; and strengthening measures to support investors in resolving difficulties and obstacles in the process of carrying out investment procedures, investment preparation, and project implementation.

Encourage and support the establishment of e-commerce websites and applications; promote trade, and support participation in trade fairs and conferences connecting supply and demand for goods. Focus on strengthening market control, promptly detecting and handling violations in business, trade, and service activities, and protecting consumer rights.

With many synchronized solutions, commercial and service activities in the city have developed strongly, the retail system is expanding, meeting the modern shopping needs of the people, and making an important contribution to the city's economic growth.

Source: Son La Newspaper