Informal Businesses Around Hóc Môn Market Strain Food Safety and Waste Management

Ho Chi Minh City authorities are grappling with the challenges posed by 147 informal businesses operating around the Hóc Môn agricultural wholesale market. While the market itself maintains strict controls, these spontaneous vendors, many of whom are mobile, create significant pressure on food safety and waste management.

The Hóc Môn market is a vital hub, supplying an estimated 10-16% of the city's agricultural products daily, including a substantial portion of its pork. Inside, 350 registered stalls operate 24/7, with all businesses certified for food safety. In the first half of 2026, inspections and testing of samples from within the market found no violations.

However, the situation outside the market is far more complex. The UBND of Xuân Thới Sơn commune reports nearly 147 informal points of sale, with over 50 fixed and nearly 100 mobile. Despite regular crackdowns, these businesses quickly re-establish themselves. The period between 11 PM and 3 AM is particularly problematic, with vendors blocking roads, causing traffic jams, and discarding waste indiscriminately, often into the market area or onto streets, without paying collection fees.

Tracing the origin of products sold at these informal stalls is also difficult, raising concerns about potential food safety risks. Local authorities acknowledge that limited personnel and insufficient penalties hinder their efforts to permanently resolve the issue.