One of ways to know more about life of a Vietnamese region is visiting local markets. Vietnamese people go to market daily, commonly two times a day. Therefore, it can be said that Vietnamese market is a location where takes place daily living activities, and so reflects partly culture and lifestyle of residents. By the way of searching out what Vietnamese people sell and buy, what they exchange and talk, what they like, how they advertise and promote products, how goods is transported…, travelers will find out many interesting things. Especially, in markets, travelers will be immersed in a different life, different space, different colors, sounds, odors with different experiences.
Vietnamese culture is quite different in each region, and markets of different regions are not similar. Visiting market is not only to trade, but also to search indigenous culture. Let’s discover the most famous and ancient markets along the length of Vietnam.
Vietnamese culture is quite different in each region, and markets of different regions are not similar. Visiting market is not only to trade, but also to search indigenous culture. Let’s discover the most famous and ancient markets along the length of Vietnam.
Dong Xuan market – Hanoi
This is the biggest market in northern Vietnam, a central market where all of commodities are focused on it, then transported to many other areas. It was founded in 1889. Initially, the market was hold outdoor. Subsequently, it was constructed by the French administration and had roof.
Today, the architectural part of the façade has retained. In this market, wholesale traders and retailers sell everything from clothes, household goods, furniture, to foodstuff, which serve both living activities and production.
Particularly, the market is a favorite traditional culinary site and a frequent-destination to gourmets and tourists. It’s near Sword (Hoan Kiem) lake, Long Bien bridge and other ancient streets.
From 2003, Dong Xuan night market was opened as a tourist attraction, where one can purchase souvenirs and handicrafts, taste traditional food, and enjoy Vietnamese cultural performance like “ca trù” (song with clappers), “chèo”, monochord playing, “xẩm” singing… At present, ancient streets around the market, including Đồng Xuân, Hàng Ngang, Hàng Đào and Hàng Đường, have become as pedestrian streets on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday to expand scope of Dong Xuan night market.
Note: Travelers can discover ancient streets and traditional cuisine by a Hanoi cyclo and walking tour.
This is the biggest market in northern Vietnam, a central market where all of commodities are focused on it, then transported to many other areas. It was founded in 1889. Initially, the market was hold outdoor. Subsequently, it was constructed by the French administration and had roof.
Today, the architectural part of the façade has retained. In this market, wholesale traders and retailers sell everything from clothes, household goods, furniture, to foodstuff, which serve both living activities and production.
Particularly, the market is a favorite traditional culinary site and a frequent-destination to gourmets and tourists. It’s near Sword (Hoan Kiem) lake, Long Bien bridge and other ancient streets.
From 2003, Dong Xuan night market was opened as a tourist attraction, where one can purchase souvenirs and handicrafts, taste traditional food, and enjoy Vietnamese cultural performance like “ca trù” (song with clappers), “chèo”, monochord playing, “xẩm” singing… At present, ancient streets around the market, including Đồng Xuân, Hàng Ngang, Hàng Đào and Hàng Đường, have become as pedestrian streets on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday to expand scope of Dong Xuan night market.
Note: Travelers can discover ancient streets and traditional cuisine by a Hanoi cyclo and walking tour.
Dong Ba market - Hue
This market was built under the reign of Thanh Thai King in 1899. It is located near the eastern corner of the Citadel and in the north bank of romantic Perfume River. It has an area of barely 500m2 with 3 stories.
Like many other Vietnamese typical markets, residents in Dong Ba trade necessities for living. However, the market is striking by its stalls selling souvenirs and local specialties. Many are Hue’s subtle and original handicrafts. Some of which are Phu Cam conical hat, Hien Luong scissors, bronze articles of the Duc guild, Phuoc Tich pottery, Ke Mon jewelry, Nam Thuan sweets, Bao La rattan, Lai Bang “thanh tra”, Tinh Tam Lake dried lotus seed, Tuan tea, Huong Can mandarins, Luong Quan - Nguyet Bieu pomelos, Sinh village confetti and bamboo products.
Dong Ba is a wonderful place to enjoy traditional and affordable dishes of Vietnam. In early morning, many small groups of hawkers flock to Dong Ba market, creating a dear image of Hue Citadel.
This market was built under the reign of Thanh Thai King in 1899. It is located near the eastern corner of the Citadel and in the north bank of romantic Perfume River. It has an area of barely 500m2 with 3 stories.
Like many other Vietnamese typical markets, residents in Dong Ba trade necessities for living. However, the market is striking by its stalls selling souvenirs and local specialties. Many are Hue’s subtle and original handicrafts. Some of which are Phu Cam conical hat, Hien Luong scissors, bronze articles of the Duc guild, Phuoc Tich pottery, Ke Mon jewelry, Nam Thuan sweets, Bao La rattan, Lai Bang “thanh tra”, Tinh Tam Lake dried lotus seed, Tuan tea, Huong Can mandarins, Luong Quan - Nguyet Bieu pomelos, Sinh village confetti and bamboo products.
Dong Ba is a wonderful place to enjoy traditional and affordable dishes of Vietnam. In early morning, many small groups of hawkers flock to Dong Ba market, creating a dear image of Hue Citadel.
Dam market – Nha Trang
Located in the central of the beach city Nha Trang , the market attracts many travelers by its unique and quaint architectural style. Dam was constructed in 1908 on a wide marsh. Therefore, it was named as “Đầm”, which means “marsh” in English.
This circular two-story building has a V-shaped roof system, which symbolized a pure lotus flower. Beside normal commodities, people in the market also sells many mementoes (picture, bag, clock…). Many products are made of seashell (scallops, sea snail) with various strange and nice shapes. Dam market also has many fresh and dried seafood of such as fish, cuttlefish, shrimp, seaweed, sea cucumber and dried hippocampus; as well as local specialties like Nha Trang spring roll and steam pork roll. Particularly, this market is impressive by the tidy and eye-catching arrangement of commodities.
Located in the central of the beach city Nha Trang , the market attracts many travelers by its unique and quaint architectural style. Dam was constructed in 1908 on a wide marsh. Therefore, it was named as “Đầm”, which means “marsh” in English.
This circular two-story building has a V-shaped roof system, which symbolized a pure lotus flower. Beside normal commodities, people in the market also sells many mementoes (picture, bag, clock…). Many products are made of seashell (scallops, sea snail) with various strange and nice shapes. Dam market also has many fresh and dried seafood of such as fish, cuttlefish, shrimp, seaweed, sea cucumber and dried hippocampus; as well as local specialties like Nha Trang spring roll and steam pork roll. Particularly, this market is impressive by the tidy and eye-catching arrangement of commodities.
Ben Thanh market – Ho Chi Minh city
This most long-standing trade center is the symbol of Ho Chi Minh city, and one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon. Started running from 1914, this century market is not only a bustling trade area, but also a historical witness beholding many vicissitude alters of the city.
With an area of 13,056 m2, the market welcomes average 10,000 turns of visitor everyday. It has 4 main entrances and 12 accessory entrances spreading 4 directions.
Many kinds of products focus on this market, comprising clothing, footwear, textile, handicraft, brocade product, ao dai, souvenir, jewelry and local cuisine. The Southern entrance (opposite to Quach Thi Trang square) is three-sided clock tower, inside it is the place where show fabric products and dried food. The Northern door (toward Le Thanh Ton street) is radiant by stalls of fresh flowers and fruits. The Eastern entrance (toward Phan Boi Chau street) enthralls tourists by colorful domestic and sweet products; while the Western entrance (toward Phan Chu Trinh street) is really enchanting by footwear, handicraft and souvenir products with diverse sizes and shapes.
Note: Sai Gon has retained many colonial heritages. To discover this bustling city and its lifestyle, travelers can take a stylish Vespa tour (here).
This most long-standing trade center is the symbol of Ho Chi Minh city, and one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon. Started running from 1914, this century market is not only a bustling trade area, but also a historical witness beholding many vicissitude alters of the city.
With an area of 13,056 m2, the market welcomes average 10,000 turns of visitor everyday. It has 4 main entrances and 12 accessory entrances spreading 4 directions.
Many kinds of products focus on this market, comprising clothing, footwear, textile, handicraft, brocade product, ao dai, souvenir, jewelry and local cuisine. The Southern entrance (opposite to Quach Thi Trang square) is three-sided clock tower, inside it is the place where show fabric products and dried food. The Northern door (toward Le Thanh Ton street) is radiant by stalls of fresh flowers and fruits. The Eastern entrance (toward Phan Boi Chau street) enthralls tourists by colorful domestic and sweet products; while the Western entrance (toward Phan Chu Trinh street) is really enchanting by footwear, handicraft and souvenir products with diverse sizes and shapes.
Note: Sai Gon has retained many colonial heritages. To discover this bustling city and its lifestyle, travelers can take a stylish Vespa tour (here).
Nga Bay market – Hau Giang
Established in 1915, Nga Bay is the biggest floating market in Mekong delta. The market started after 10 years of digging canals. Once seven tributaries had been formed, Nga Bay immediately became the largest focal point of the South. “Phung Hiep star”, following to the former call of the French, Nga Bay had been expected to become the trading port for all vast Hau Giang region.
Nga Bay is a general market, where people can buy wholesale and retail. Travelers coming here will be overwhelmed by innumerable colors of fruits, vegetables, poultry products, aquatic products, seafood, handicraft goods and domestic utensils. Specially, this floating market supplies snakes, tortoises, birds, squirrels and iguanas all year around. This is also a heaven of succulent Vietnamese traditional food.
Right in Nga Bay, many trade villages making traditional junks and boats were formed at areas of Tan Thoi Hoa, Chanh and Cat, stretching to over 1 km and having existed over a half of century, with several hundreds of households thriving thanks to Nga Bay market.
An Australian writer said about Nga Bay as follows, “this is a miraculous open-air market, the boom of natural colors, sounds and scents, people has imbued with Viet nuance.”
Established in 1915, Nga Bay is the biggest floating market in Mekong delta. The market started after 10 years of digging canals. Once seven tributaries had been formed, Nga Bay immediately became the largest focal point of the South. “Phung Hiep star”, following to the former call of the French, Nga Bay had been expected to become the trading port for all vast Hau Giang region.
Nga Bay is a general market, where people can buy wholesale and retail. Travelers coming here will be overwhelmed by innumerable colors of fruits, vegetables, poultry products, aquatic products, seafood, handicraft goods and domestic utensils. Specially, this floating market supplies snakes, tortoises, birds, squirrels and iguanas all year around. This is also a heaven of succulent Vietnamese traditional food.
Right in Nga Bay, many trade villages making traditional junks and boats were formed at areas of Tan Thoi Hoa, Chanh and Cat, stretching to over 1 km and having existed over a half of century, with several hundreds of households thriving thanks to Nga Bay market.
An Australian writer said about Nga Bay as follows, “this is a miraculous open-air market, the boom of natural colors, sounds and scents, people has imbued with Viet nuance.”