Solidarity market at the Vietnam - Laos border, a place of friendship exchange

Located between Nam Can International Border Gate (Ky Son District, Nghe An Province, Vietnam) and Nam Kan International Border Gate (Xieng Khouang Province, Laos), there is a special market that only opens every Sunday. The market is called Nam Can, or also known by the intimate name of Doan Ket Market. The market is not only a place for trade and commerce, but also contributes to strengthening the friendship between the people of Vietnam and Laos.

Special border market

Every Sunday at 5am, Ms. Nivarnjai (Nonghet commune, Xieng Khouang, Laos) and her mother arrange goods to prepare for the Solidarity market. Her stall usually opens at 5am and closes at 2pm. The items sold are mainly products from Laos such as pestles, mortars, rice, handicrafts... Customers are not only Lao but also many Vietnamese. For her, going to the market is not only for business but also an opportunity to interact and meet lovely Vietnamese and Lao people.

Nam Can market, also known by its familiar name Doan Ket market, is only held every Sunday. (Photo: Hiep Trung)

According to the leader of the People's Committee of Ky Son district (Nghe An), Nam Can market used to meet once a month on the last day of the month, located deep inside Laos, 3 km from the border. However, in recent years, with the increase in cultural exchange as well as trade between Vietnam and Laos in general and Nghe An province with Noong Het in particular, the market has been opened weekly and moved to the location near the Nam Can international border gate, close to the Vietnam - Laos border. The market has no gate and no name. Most of the items sold are placed on simple wooden tables or tarpaulins on the rocky ground. A few stalls selling brocade, traditional medicine... at the end of the market have temporary kiosks with corrugated iron roofs. The Vietnam - Laos border market meets the trading needs of people in the border area. The market gathers many products collected and produced by local people such as: wild banana flowers, wild bamboo shoots, wild vegetables, wild pepper, wild chicken, rice... Besides, there are also many stalls selling clothes, shoes, household items... Here people can pay in Lao or Vietnamese currency. It is simple, but for many people, the market is a "specialty". Many tourists coming to the market are very passionate about the bustling atmosphere, the honesty of the sellers, the rich products. Especially the unique culture of the Mong, Thai, Kho Mu ethnic groups in western Nghe An and the ethnic groups living in Laos. In addition to the typical products, the market has a culinary area with many specialties from the two countries. It would be a pity to come here without enjoying grilled black chicken, eating Lao sticky rice and drinking a cup of corn wine or Lao beer. The Lao black chicken sold at the market is raised freely to dig for worms and crickets in the garden, so the meat is very firm and especially delicious. Ms. Phan Hong Thom (Nghe An) said that when she came to the market, she had the opportunity to meet, buy goods and enjoy many specialties of Laos. She was able to directly enjoy the specialties of the region by squeezing sticky rice with her hands and tearing grilled chicken meat, then mixing some wild vegetables and dipping it in spicy red soy sauce. The dish is simple and rustic but can fascinate any tourist.

Tourists are excited to explore the unique culture at the Doan Ket market. (Photo: Phan Quynh Anh)

A place of friendship and exchange

In addition to trading activities, people also consider the market as a festival, where they can satisfy their spiritual values. There are people who travel dozens of kilometers of forest roads to the market not to buy and sell but simply to meet and exchange with friends and relatives across the border. That is why, although the market officially opens on Sunday morning, many people have come to the market area since Saturday afternoon to drink corn wine, eat Lao sticky rice and listen to the flute melodies of the ethnic groups of the two countries. The market is especially crowded at the end of the year. At that time, people of both countries, regardless of age, gender, often come very early to be immersed in the flute melodies calling friends, immersing themselves in the joyful atmosphere. At this time, the market is no longer a trading activity but a place to exchange and strengthen the friendship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos. That is why after the border markets, the solidarity between the two countries' brothers and sisters becomes even closer. According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hong Duc, Head of Nam Can Border Guard Station (Nghe An Provincial Border Guard): Nam Can border market represents the special solidarity and friendship between the people of Vietnam and Laos in general, the people of Nghe An - Xieng Khouang provinces and Ky Son - Nonghet districts in particular. In the coming time, the market will be renovated to become an attractive tourist destination, visitors coming here will not only be able to buy local specialties, but also experience cultural activities imbued with the identities of Vietnam and Laos.