Markets in Vietnam are the places where goods and services are exchanged, for money or goods. From ancient times, the market was close to people’s lives and a centre for the cultural life of the people.
1. Yin-Yang market at O Village, Vo Cuong commune, Bac Ninh province
The legendary market of the dead at O Village of the northern city of Bac Ninh province. Known in folk belief as the Yin-Yang Market, the market is organised once a year at O Village, now known as Xuan O Village, Bac Ninh City, and is considered a place where the living have a unique chance to meet the dead.
The market takes place after sunset on the 4th of the first lunar month, when it turns to dark, yang gives way to yin and heaven meets the earth. It ends before dawn. People gather at a big yard by an ancient banyan tree next to the village’s cemetery. This is a great chance for both locals and visitors to take part in a number of legendary and interesting religious and cultural practices which had long been left inactive.
2. Bac Ha market in Lao Cai province
Being a minority ethnic people market, the famous Sunday Market in the town of Bac Ha is a trading centre and meeting place for couples, friends, and relatives every Sunday.
Bac Ha market in Lao Cai province
Many different ethnic groups such as Flower H’mong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay and Nung minorities gather to buy and sell local products that cannot be found elsewhere. The market is very crowded, and packed with local products for sale or barter which are carried away on horseback.
Besides the usual items like pigs, cows, chickens, and ducks, Bac Ha Market sells dogs. There is a brisk trade at the market for everything from hand-embroidered skirts to all manner of 4-legged animals. The fresh meat section is not for the faint of heart and might steer more than a few visitors in the direction of strict vegetarianism.
At the fair, adventurous gastronomes can try “thang co” blood porridge, a popular dish of the H’Mong and other local people. The Flower H’mong minority is the most common here, and their colourful dresses make a beautiful sight.
Bac Ha market begins from the early morning. People come to market not only for buying or selling, but also for a chance to meet friends, relatives or lovers, to drink or just to show off some new clothes.
3. Ky Lua market in Lang Son province
Ky Lua market in Lang Son province bears a deep imprint of the culture of rural fairs. The market is not only a place to trade but also a place for the young people of ethnic groups to get together, to date.
Ky Lua market is held six times every month on the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd and 27th days on the lunar calendar, and a special fair is organized once a year, lasting from the 22nd to 27th day of January on lunar calendar.
At the market, special products from many provinces in the country are seen. Market-goers sometimes go to the market for a mere purpose of seeing and meeting people, of discussing business.
Young people of various ethnic minorities go to the market to meet buddies, to seek prospective partners through the love songs exchanged between boys and girls, or to put it more generally, to seek something to which they can identify themselves to.
4. Khau Vai love market in Ha Giang province
Khau Vai love market, held annually on March 23 in lunar month in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, attracts crowds of ethnic groups and visitors.
Khau Vai love market belongs to Khau Vai commune, Meo Vac District, Ha Giang, province. This is a unique market of Vietnam.
The Khau Vai fair is located in the village of the Nung, in a wide valley and full of people. The market features the colourful costumers of the ethnic H’Mong, Dao, Giay, Nung and others.
The oldest person of Khau Vai commune did not know the time that Khau Vai love market began. According to the legend, the love story between the boy of the H’Mong and the girl of the Giay led to a grudge between two tribes. In order to avoid a bloody confrontation, the two were forced to separate. However, the boy and the girl vowed that they would meet once on March 26th at Khau Vai market. Khau Vai love market began from that. Up to now, Khau Vai love market became the dating fair, finding love from young to married people.
5. Vieng market in Nam Dinhprovince
On the 8th day of the first lunar month, people flock to a unique market in the northern province of Nam Dinh to wish for a prosperous and lucky new year.
Vieng market in Nam Dinh province
According to popular belief, anything bought at the market, which opens every year at midnight on the 7th and only remains open through the 8th, will bring good luck to the customer for the whole year.
There are two Vieng markets. One opens near to the Day Palace in the northern province of Nam Dinh, Vu Ban District, while another is held at Bi Pagoda in Nam Truc District.
Both markets last from the evening of January 7 through the morning of January 8 of the lunar calendar.
These once-a-year spring markets display handicrafts, antiques and modern reproductions, utensils, agricultural tools, and many varieties of ornamental plants./.
Đăng ký: VietNam News