In Pho Yen City, there are currently 12 traditional markets, including one type-1 market (Ba Hang market), the rest are type-3 markets, with a total of 1,432 fixed business locations. In order to improve the operational efficiency of the markets, from 2017 to present, the city has invested over 3 billion VND to upgrade and renovate the facilities of the markets, meeting the needs of the people's circulation of goods.

Currently, all markets are solidly built, the drainage system is guaranteed, environmental sanitation and food safety are focused on. The market management board has also established a joint fire prevention and fighting team, and at the same time disseminated and trained on related regulations for traders to do business safely and effectively. This has contributed to limiting the situation of "toad" markets, temporary markets, which pose potential risks of traffic safety and affect urban aesthetics.

Mr. Le Thai Anh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuc Tan Commune, said: In 2021, Phuc Tan market with an area of 1,600m2 was renovated and repaired with a total investment of 1.5 billion VND. As a purely agricultural commune, far from the city center, the market upgrade aims to better meet the business and trading needs of local people.

In order to improve the operational efficiency of markets, Pho Yen City has also actively implemented the conversion of market models from government management to enterprise management. Up to now, in the city, there are 2 markets, Ba Hang and Dong Tien, which are invested in capital and managed by enterprises under the BOT form, the remaining markets are managed by the People's Committees of communes and wards through the market management board. According to the assessment, the markets that have converted their management models have all invested in building spacious facilities; the management, exploitation and operation are more effective and systematic, creating favorable conditions for small traders to do stable business.

Implementing digital transformation at markets, Pho Yen City has coordinated with telecommunications units and enterprises to deploy the 4.0 market model in the communes and wards: Ba Hang, Dong Cao, Tien Phong, Thanh Cong, Minh Duc, Phuc Thuan, Phuc Tan, Van Phai. Up to now, over 70% of traders at the markets have created QR codes for cashless payments. Market management boards have also implemented the collection of some amounts of money and service fees (such as electricity, water, telecommunications service fees, etc.) at 4.0 markets through bank accounts and mobile money accounts. Along with the development and enhancement of the appeal of traditional markets, currently, in Pho Yen City, there are many supermarkets and convenience stores invested in construction and put into operation, with a total area of over 6,500m2, typically LanChi Mart, Dien May Xanh, Dien May Trung Xuan, The Gioi Di Dong, etc.

Along with that, attracting investment in the construction of works contributing to the development of local trade and services is also focused. Accordingly, the city has attracted a number of large investment projects, such as: Suoi Lanh Lake Ecological Urban Area, Resort, Sports and Physical Training (with a total area of over 437 hectares, of which commercial and service land is 10.6 hectares); Phuc Tan Nui Coc Ecological Resort; Nui Coc ESCAPE Resort... Thanks to the synchronous implementation of many solutions, trade and service activities in Pho Yen City are increasingly developing. As of the end of July 2024, the total turnover and retail sales of goods in the area are estimated at over 6,300 billion VND, equal to 65.7% of the annual plan and an increase of 19% over the same period last year.

Although there are many positive results, the commercial infrastructure in some areas of Pho Yen City has not yet met the requirements. According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thien, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee: The market and supermarket system mainly focuses on retail functions; the commercial - service infrastructure in rural areas has not developed proportionally, the technical facilities are still weak. Market management still has some shortcomings, lack of synchronization, food hygiene and safety issues have not been thoroughly resolved...

Faced with this reality, in the coming time, along with the effective use of state budget capital, Pho Yen City will continue to attract businesses to invest in building commercial - service infrastructure in the area. In particular, focusing on upgrading traditional markets to ensure new rural criteria, type-1 markets; at the same time, implementing many solutions to better manage the quality of goods at the markets, paying more attention to supporting small traders to improve the quality of goods and services...