Markets in Vietnam
One could not imagine a trip to Vietnam without including the markets, one of the cultural aspects of this country.
Floating markets, night markets, ethnic markets, traditional markets in the big cities, in the alleys or on the mountainside, they are everywhere!
Floating markets of the Mekong Delta:
These are often for the largest wholesale markets, this is where producers deliver their goods, each large boat will have a specific load from watermelon to pineapple through the coconut to various fruits and vegetables depending on the season.
A pole at the end of which will be attached the article will indicate to the buyer what is proposed.
The buyers, are also merchants, they come to supply themselves here to be able to resell on the ground markets of the cities and villages around.
The main floating markets:
Cai Be nearest to Saigon
Cai Rang near Can Tho, lasts until noon.
Long Xuyen, little visited, and less animated than the others, remains quite authentic.
Phong Dien close to that of Cai Rang and can be done in a row
Phung Hiep in the south of Can Tho
Nga Nam night market, starts at 3am.
Tra Ôn is composed of 2 parts, one on the bank and the other on the water.
Chau Doc, watermelon and coconut floating market.
The floating markets of the Red River:
The barges go down from the north, Lao Caï (at the Chinese border) to Hanoi and make stops along the way of about two hours to sell along the way…
Tourist night markets:
In Hoi An, on Hội An island, in front of the bridge near the Japanese bridge, Chợ Đêm Hội An, it is more a fair dedicated to tourists than a typical market, you will however find some nice items like lanterns, to see during a night walk.
The same goes for the one in Hanoi in the old quarter from Friday to Sunday from 7pm to 11pm.
All the trinkets are there! cheap t-shirts, handicrafts, accessories, shoes, sunglasses and souvenirs for tourists, as well as some food stalls, the curiosity being to see the numerous Vietnamese strolling around with their families.
This is the case in almost all major tourist cities, including: Ha Long, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Phan Thiet, Ben Thanh (Saigon), Phu Quoc, Tay Do (Can Tho in the delta) etc
Marchés nocturnes typiques:
In the delta the one with the candle of Nga Nam which begins at 3h and finishes towards 8h
For the other cities, they are, like the wholesale markets of the delta, supply platforms (a bit like our Rungis), you have to be careful when you go there, do not tempt the devil with handbags, cameras, etc., and better to be with several people.
In Ha Noi, the flower markets, in the horticultural village of Tay Tuu (20 km from Ha Noi) and in Quang Ba, they are full from 2am to 4am.
Specific markets:
The one with fish on the banks of the Thu Bon river in Hoi An while the sun is not yet present, we witness a parade of fishermen coming to deliver what they have harvested during the night.
The one with fishes on the beach of Sam Son when the boats arrive! A real curiosity.
The one with Can Cau buffalo market.
The Cho gioi (flea market), which is unique in Hanoi, also known as the thieves’ market, starts on Hue Street.
It sells everything related to two-wheelers and other vehicles as well as electrical and mechanical equipment, water pumps, it’s endless.
It is told to thieves because the origin of the items is not always clear, especially those of vehicles (mirrors, rims, etc.), a real curiosity little known by tourists.
The Thuan Kieu bird market in Saigon.
Non-exhaustive list, each corner of Vietnam will have its market.
Ethnic markets:
Surely the most spectacular of all, the most exotic too, meeting place of the ethnic groups.
Minorities go there to buy, sell and meet their neighbors, sometimes walking for hours from the top of the mountain to get there and back.
You will find food of course, but also clothes, farming tools, seeds, medicine, live animals, buffalos, pigs, chickens, dogs, and some forest animals, rice alcohol, corn alcohol, musical instruments, cult objects, hair, etc.
Some ethnic markets will have their days according to the “real animal” signs* of the zodiac,
– Ethnic markets that follow the zodiac:
Sung Trai market, buffalo and goat day, Lung Phin market, tiger and monkey day, etc.
Khau Vai market with fixed dates on: 2/7/12/22/27 of each month whatever the day and also an annual market, traditional, that of love, (one comes to seek the soul mate) on March 27 of the lunar year.
– Other markets with shifted, every 6 days for example, one says then that they are with shifted since the day changes systematically by moving back one day.
– Weekly markets
Often open on Saturdays (Can Cau) or Sundays (Bac Ha), others have a fixed day of the week such as Co Ly on Tuesday, Xin Man on Friday etc.
The “covered” markets or halls, in every town and village:
For those of district, of villages, it is there that the Vietnamese come to be supplied each day, the morning and the evening, in fresh food (fruits, vegetables, meats, fish and other victuals) which will be cooked for the daily meals.
Some of them will be very big and well known by tourists.
Ben Thanh in Saigon, Dong Ba in Hue, Han in Danang, Dong Xuan in Hanoi, Cholon, Bình Tây, the Chinese market in Saigon, etc.
Small country markets:
Often on the side of the road, with only a few stalls and few shoppers, you can find everything you need to prepare a meal and maintain your house or garden, just like in the ethnic markets!
