Tinh Bien border market is quiet in the last months of the year

Tinh Bien border market is a bustling destination for domestic and foreign tourists because it is famous for many products, from local specialties to imported products. However, in the last months of 2025, the number of visitors here is quieter than before.

Among the southwestern border markets, trading activities at Tinh Bien market are the busiest. However, the market is currently quite deserted.

Tinh Bien border market located in Tinh Bien district, An Giang province, has long been a famous destination for domestic and foreign visitors. This place is not only a center for trading rich and diverse goods but also a cultural exchange point, where local people, traders and tourists buy and sell a variety of specialties and imported products from neighboring countries, at reasonable prices.

Visitors to Tinh Bien market can shop for many essential items.

In late October, according to the reporter of Tin Tuc and Dan Toc newspaper, the number of visitors to the market was quite sparse, only a handful. In particular, this place has always attracted tourists, but recently the number of visitors to the market has also decreased seriously.

Ms. Le Thi Ngoc Chau, a clothing trader at Tinh Bien market, said that before the COVID-19 pandemic, Tinh Bien market was always bustling with "buyers and sellers". However, after the pandemic, the number of customers gradually decreased, combined with the strong development of e-commerce platforms, traditional markets gradually lost their appeal. Currently, the highest number of customers mainly falls in the first months of the year, from January to April.

Cosmetic products from many countries are sold in large quantities at Tinh Bien market.

As a business specializing in guiding tours for customers, Ms. Pham Thi Ngoc Yen, Representative of Chu Du S Tourism Trading Company Limited, said: "Previously, when leading tourist groups, Tinh Bien market was very bustling with business and reasonable prices. Travel and tourism businesses often lead visitors to visit the market in two main times: summer (from June to July) and after Tet. This is the time when tourists combine visiting the border gate and visiting Ba Chua Xu, then visit the market to buy goods as gifts for relatives and friends."

A tourist from Ho Chi Minh City chooses to buy goods at Tinh Bien market in late October.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tran Anh Hung, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, said: "Currently, although the market is less crowded than previous years, the prices here are quite reasonable, even surprisingly cheap. I once bought half a kilo of palm sugar for only 17,000 VND. For me, Tinh Bien market is not just a shopping place. Every time I come here, I feel like I am entering a miniature cultural space of the An Giang border region."

Palm sugar, a specialty of An Giang, is sold widely at Tinh Bien market.

Similarly, Ms. Ho Thanh Tuyet, a tourist from Hanoi, said that prices here are generally quite reasonable, especially many border products are cheaper than those in the city center markets. However, buyers still need to be flexible in bargaining, because some vendors often offer quite high "offering" prices.

The interesting thing about coming to Tinh Bien market, according to Ms. Thanh Tuyet, is not only buying things at good prices but also the feeling of being immersed in the bustling trading atmosphere, chatting with the vendors and learning the story behind each item. If the price is not suitable, visitors can walk around, visit and compare between stalls before deciding, to choose the right item that suits their needs and budget.

Thai rattan, a tropical fruit with rough brown skin and crispy white flesh, a sour taste combined with a characteristic sweet aftertaste, is sold quite a lot at Tinh Bien market.

According to statistics, Tinh Bien border market has about 200 business households specializing in trading a variety of products such as ready-made clothes, cosmetics, fabrics, shoes, household electronics, etc. Most of which are domestic products. In addition, there are many imported products from Thailand, Cambodia and China, creating a rich source of goods, competitive prices, suitable for the needs of many customer groups. Most of the customers coming to the market are from Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta provinces and even Cambodian border residents, contributing to creating a unique and vibrant trading feature of the border area.

Business activities at Tinh Bien market not only meet the shopping needs of tourists when coming to An Giang but also create jobs, increase income for people, thereby promoting local economic development.

A representative of the Tinh Bien Border Market Management Board said that on average, there are about 6,000 - 7,000 visitors coming to shop every day. The market attracts tourists thanks to its abundant supply of goods, affordable prices and the friendliness of the traders in their greetings and consultations. Although the number of visitors has recently decreased, the trading atmosphere here still retains the typical vibrant border region. For many tourists, coming to Tinh Bien market is not only about shopping but also about experiencing the local culture and people.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thi-truong-tien-te/cho-bien-gioi-tinh-bien-tram-lang-nhung-thang-cuoi-nam-20251031150858154.htm