6 Unique Markets Exclusive to Vietnam

Since ancient times, markets have been intertwined with the way of life and have been a place to showcase the culture and activities of the people. However, due to the unique characteristics of each region, unique markets have also emerged.

6 Unique Markets Exclusive to Vietnam

Join Mytour to explore 6 unique markets that you can only find in Vietnam.

1. Cai Rang Floating Market

The uniqueness and main characteristic of Cai Rang floating market is the trading of fruits and specialties from the Mekong Delta region. In ancient times, the floating market formed because road transportation and vehicles were not developed, while the demand for trading and exchanging goods among people was considerable. Today, despite the widespread development of road transportation networks, the floating market still exists and thrives.

Cai Rang Floating Market is situated approximately 600m from Cai Rang Bridge, in Cai Rang District, Can Tho City. With 300-400 boats and trading vessels operating daily, this market has been developing for over 100 years and has become a distinctive tourist attraction in Can Tho City. It is also one of the most appealing destinations in the Mekong Delta region.

The uniqueness of Dinh Yen Mat Market lies in the fact that vendors gather here from midnight until two or three in the morning, earning it the nickname 'ghost market' or 'haunted market.' Interestingly, there are no stalls or booths in this market. Buyers typically find a fixed spot to wait while sellers carry their mats on their shoulders, walking back and forth to advertise and negotiate prices, all within the vicinity of An Phuoc Pagoda's courtyard. Despite the absence of fixed stalls, the market is bustling with buyers and sellers bargaining. Once a purchase is made and a price is agreed upon, buyers pay, and sellers deliver the goods.

Today, when visiting Dinh Yen, one will no longer experience the bustling atmosphere of the unique market it once was. The main reason is the completion of the rural transportation system, allowing vehicles to penetrate deep into villages and hamlets for direct and convenient product procurement. However, the residents of Dinh Yen, inheriting their ancestral profession, continue to nurture and pursue the traditional mat-weaving craft, making this village, with over a hundred years of existence and development, a traditional craft village.

The Dalat Ghost Market is an essential destination for any visitor to Dalat, offering a bustling night market atmosphere with affordable goods and food. Local vendors explain that the market is called 'ghost market' because in the past, there were no streetlights, and food stalls only had a small lamp flickering amidst the darkness. To access the market area, tourists had to navigate through very difficult three-tiered steps.

The Đà Lạt Ghost Market is an essential stop for any visitor to Đà Lạt, thanks to its bustling nighttime trading atmosphere and affordable prices for goods and food. Local traders reveal that the market is named 'Ghost Market' because in the past, there were no streetlights, and food stalls relied solely on a small lamp flickering in the dark. To reach the market area, tourists had to navigate through a complex maze of steps.

The Dalat Ghost Market is an essential stop for any visitor to Dalat, thanks to its bustling nighttime trading atmosphere and affordable prices for goods and food. Local traders explain that the market got its name 'Ghost Market' because, in the past, there were no streetlights, and food stalls only had a small lamp flickering amidst the darkness. Getting to the market area required tourists to navigate through a maze of difficult three-tiered steps.

At night, due to the cold weather, this area mainly sells grilled dishes. Various agricultural products such as corn, sweet potatoes, etc., are brought down to this market by farmers to grill and sell to tourists.

4. Gò Găng Conical Hat Market

Gò Găng Conical Hat Market is an extremely unique market where activity begins as early as 3 a.m. Hundreds of people from neighboring areas gather here, bustling with sellers and buyers calling out to each other. People recognize each other by the flickering oil lamps and candles amidst the wind. Long-time traders here say, 'The market has become a tradition, and no one fears the darkness anymore. The market is full of poor female farmers from the region. They bring the hats they make during their spare time to sell.'

At the conical hat market, buyers and sellers seem to be familiar with each other, addressing each other intimately, with authentic local accents. After selling stacks of hats, the women buy materials to make more hats and return to the fields. After the market closes, buyers transport Gò Găng hats to all parts of the country, sometimes distributing them to markets in Laos and Cambodia.

5. Khâu Vai Love Market

Khâu Vai Love Market (Khâu Vai in Tày, Nùng means 'thorny pass') is also known as Phong Lưu Market, and it has been around for nearly 100 years, dating back to around 1919. The market is located in Khâu Vai commune, Mèo Vạc district, Hà Giang province, and it only meets once a year on the 27th day of the third lunar month.

Because this is the place where people come to find each other, after a year of separation, mainly those who have had troubled love but truly love each other, but for some reason cannot be together, now each person has their own fate. On this day, they gather here to confide, inform each other of their own lives, and reminisce about past feelings.

6. Bac Ha Highland Market

Known as the largest highland market in Lao Cai, attracting many traders from various ethnic groups near and far for exchanges and trading, Bac Ha is renowned for its preserved traditional features. Bac Ha Market meets every Sunday from morning until 2 p.m. Here, you can find any essential item for the lives of ethnic people, from hoes, shovels to traditional crafts, or even buffaloes and horses. It is divided into smaller market sections for easy navigation.

A unique feature of the Bac Ha Highland Market is the opportunity to enjoy 'thắng cố,' a specialty dish of the Northwest mountainous region. 'Thắng cố' never runs out in the pot, just as the wine never runs dry in the jar. Bac Ha Highland Market embodies the communal lifestyle of the Northwest highland ethnic groups, preserving the unique values of traditional cultural identity.

By Nhu Y (compiled)

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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour