At the beginning of the year, I went to the countryside market in Kiên Giang to pick pineapples for immediate consumption.

This is the ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life on holidays.

At the beginning of the year, I went to the countryside market in Kiên Giang to pick pineapples for immediate consumption.

Located by the Cái Lớn River, Ba Đình market is not well-known to many tourists, yet it's a pretty nice spot for those who want to explore a true countryside market that you can't find in big cities. Additionally, if you've chosen the Mekong Delta for a peaceful vacation, the vegetable gardens near the market offer you the chance to experience picking sweet fruits from the orchard and enjoying them right there at very affordable prices, which are rare elsewhere.

Pineapples, also known as thơm (dứa) in Vietnamese, are round fruits. When they are green, they are quite sour, but when ripe and yellow, they are extremely sweet and refreshing. The pineapple fields are about 1.5-2 hours away by motorbike from the main road. There's no specific address; you just need to ask the locals, and it's easy to find your way there. This area has high salinity in the soil, but it's a good environment for growing pineapples. Thanks to the salt, the pineapples here are very sweet despite requiring minimal care. Therefore, they naturally become a specialty fruit of the region, ubiquitous and available for visitors to pick and enjoy on the spot if they wish.

Near the Lunar New Year, pineapples are in season, ready for farmers to harvest and sell by the roadside at prices as low as 10,000 Vietnamese dong for 5 small fruits. Large, heavy fruits weighing around 1kg each are priced at 8,000 Vietnamese dong, enough for several people to eat to their heart's content. You can ask the garden owner for permission to enter and pick them yourself, but you have to be careful because the leaves of this plant are prickly and tough, and the small, protruding eyes make it easy to get your fingers cut. It's best to wear gloves for safety. Additionally, the prickly appearance of the pineapple fields also provides a perfect backdrop for young people to take trendy photos without worrying about being disturbed by others.

Accommodation: There are no lodging options near the market, so if you plan to stay overnight, you'll need to rent a hotel in Rạch Giá, Kiên Giang. Prices are quite reasonable, ranging from 150,000 to 300,000 VND per night. It's advisable to combine a visit to the beach area in Rạch Giá before heading to the market. Make sure to bring along rain gear and sun protection due to the humid weather.

Directions from Saigon: You can take a coach from the Western Bus Station to Kiên Giang or fly to Cà Mau and then rent a motorbike for convenience. Along the way, enjoy the serene countryside scenery.

By Vi Yến/Ngôi sao

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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour