Goi Market, Choi Market during Tet...

As is customary, on the 19th and 20th of the twelfth lunar month each year, the people of Huong Son ( Ha Tinh province ) eagerly flock to Goi Market and Choi Market. At these traditional markets, people feel as if they are rediscovering their childhood, enjoying simple, rustic local delicacies.

For generations, the people of Huong Son have been closely associated with the traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) markets.

For the people of Huong Son, the Goi Market (also known as the buffalo market, held on the 19th day of the 12th lunar month) in An Hoa Thinh commune and the Choi Market (also known as the cow market, held on the 20th day of the 12th lunar month) in Tan My Ha commune have been an integral part of generations' lives. These markets can be considered repositories of traditional culture, places where the children of the homeland can feel the atmosphere of a new spring approaching.

My grandmother, who has been involved with the local market for over three decades, recounts that in the past, besides selling goods, food, and groceries, people in the area would bring buffaloes and cows to trade and sell on the 19th and 20th of the twelfth lunar month. From this, the colloquial names "buffalo market" and "cow market" emerged.

Over time, buffaloes and cows are no longer sold at these markets, but every year, on the 19th and 20th of the twelfth lunar month, local people still gather to go to the market as a way of reminiscing about a bygone era.

Many local products from Huong Son such as peanut candy, powdered candy, mandarin oranges, incense sticks, etc., are sold at Goi Market and Choi Market.

Today, Goi Market and Choi Market captivate people with local products such as: mandarin oranges, powdered candy, peanut candy, cu do (a type of candy), steamed rice cakes, sticky rice cakes... or bundles of dong leaves, incense sticks, chickens, ducks...

And as a habit, from the early morning, when the air was still bitterly cold and the night mist still hung over the narrow paths, the people of my village would call out to each other as they headed to the Goi and Choi markets. The roads leading to the markets gradually filled with the joyful laughter of the women and mothers. It was the vibrant sound of an early morning, the greetings, the lively conversations, from preparing for Tet (Lunar New Year), planting rice, harvesting corn, wrapping cakes, slaughtering pigs... all shared among the women and mothers. A bustling atmosphere, imbued with the spirit of spring, seemed to spread throughout this peaceful countryside.

Having traded at Goi Market for half a century, Mrs. Lam has witnessed many changes in this traditional market.

Arriving at the market at dawn, everyone quickly hurried to the stalls where they needed to buy something. There, the vendors had already arranged their goods, waiting for customers to arrive. Beside a pot of still-warm steaming rice cakes, Mrs. Le Thi Lam (from An Hoa Thinh commune) shared: “I am 79 years old this year, and I have been selling rice cakes at Goi market for nearly 50 years. Half a century has passed, and I have witnessed many changes at this market. What warms my heart is that people in my hometown still love this traditional dish and make time to return to the rural markets during Tet (Lunar New Year).”

Today's traditional market is vibrant with a wide variety of goods.

Despite the many changes in life, the Goi Market, Choi Market, and the traditional beauty of going to the buffalo and cattle market remain deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people of Huong Son. From the days when the market was just a small hut, barely big enough for vendors to set up their stalls, to the modern market that has been built, the people of Huong Son have remained attached to this traditional market.

Returning to his hometown after many years, just in time for the Goi and Choi markets, Mr. Ho Van Sy (60 years old, a native of Son Ninh commune, currently living and working in Binh Duong province) found the atmosphere of the rural market still the same as in his childhood. He strolled slowly through the market, choosing his favorite childhood treats, and was moved to chat when he met the vendors who used to sell cakes and candies. Mr. Sy shared: “I am so happy and joyful. After all these years, they – the vendors – are still here. Even though they are all getting on in years, they still come to the market and sell us our favorite snacks. For many years, the taste of peanut candy and powdered candy (also known as 'scoop candy') remains the same, still holding so many childhood memories for us.”

For young children, Goi Market and Choi Market are also sources of excitement and anticipation, because once a year they get to go to the market, admire the sights, and buy their favorite snacks. Ms. Ho Phuong Thao (An Hoa Thinh commune) said: "Even though my child is only 6 years old, every year when Tet approaches, she asks me when I will take her to the Tet market."

Children in Huong Son eagerly follow their parents to Goi market during Tet (Lunar New Year).

For the people of Huong Son, going to Goi Market and Choi Market is not just about shopping; it's also about enjoying the lively atmosphere of Tet (Vietnamese New Year), reliving old memories, and remembering those from "long ago." Although society has changed considerably, these traditional markets seem to hold an invisible thread that binds the community, neighbors, and homeland together. Visiting Goi Market and Choi Market is also a way for the younger generation to connect with their roots and appreciate the beautiful traditional culture.

Anh Thùy

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nui-hong-song-la/cho-goi-cho-choi-ngay-tet/261402.htm