Traditional markets need a new look.

BAC NINH - Traditional markets are not only places for buying and selling regional products to meet the essential needs of local people, but also places for people to meet and socialize whenever there is a market day; preserving many cultural features and customs of the local people. Therefore, the province always pays attention to renovating and upgrading traditional markets.

It's not just a place for buying and selling goods.

Tan Son Market, located in Tan Son commune, has been around for a long time. Besides supplying goods to the local people, Tan Son Market also provides essential items to residents of Son Hai, Sa Ly, and Bien Son communes in Bac Ninh province, as well as some areas in Lang Son province. The market is held every five days on the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd, and 27th of the lunar month. The most special market day is on the 12th of January each year. Locals call it the "Lazy Waterfall Love Market," a centuries-old tradition reflecting the unique culture of the ethnic groups in the area.

Yen Market is overcrowded, with people selling their goods right on the sidewalks and in the middle of the road.

Mr. Lang Quoc Ky, a Nung ethnic minority member from Bac Hoa village and the head of the Nung folk singing club in Tan Son commune, shared that for the people in the area, going to the market on the 12th day of the first lunar month is also like attending a festival. People come here not only to buy goods or sell their agricultural products but also to socialize and meet old friends over tea or spring wine. In particular, they also gather in groups and pairs to sing call-and-response songs, express their feelings, and exchange romantic gestures through the Sloong Hao melodies.

According to Mr. La Trieu Van, a collector of folklore and former Director of the Culture, Information and Sports Center of Son Dong District, Bac Giang Province (formerly), people in the highlands often live on high hills and mountains. Many houses and villages are separated by tens of kilometers. The journey involves crossing mountains and forests, making it difficult for people to visit each other frequently. Therefore, for generations, the highland people have used the market day as a meeting day to socialize, invite each other to drink wine, sing call-and-response songs, and exchange romantic verses. Only after the market closes or after getting drunk do they part ways, promising to meet again at the next market day. “Countless young men and women have found love and gotten married thanks to these market days. And countless young men and women have had their love stories cut short, so each year they return to the love market to meet again,” Mr. Van said.

Besides Tan Son Market, Bac Ninh currently has many other markets such as Phong Van Market in Bien Son commune; Que Son Market in Dai Son commune; Bien Dong Market in Bien Dong commune… which still retain the beauty of call-and-response singing and courtship through the sloong hao, sli, and luon melodies of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups during Tet (Lunar New Year) markets. To preserve and promote the cultural value of these highland markets, functional agencies and local authorities have developed spring festivals such as the "Luc Ngan Highland Spring Festival and Market" or the Sloong hao Singing Festival and Thac Luoi - Tan Son Love Market. This both preserves the cultural beauty of the highlands and promotes the value of traditional markets, helping to develop trade and services, and increase income for the people.

Building a civilized and modern market.

To date, Bac Ninh province has 238 markets (including 2 Class I markets, 24 Class II markets, and 212 Class III markets). Currently, 173 markets are invested in, built, and managed by the state. The remaining markets are invested in, managed, and operated by businesses and cooperatives. It is estimated that these markets create jobs for more than 25,000 workers. To enhance the effectiveness of traditional markets, since 2021 alone, Bac Giang and Bac Ninh (formerly) provinces have invested tens of billions of VND to renovate and upgrade these markets.

To date, the newly established Bac Ninh province has 238 markets (including 2 Class I markets, 24 Class II markets, and 212 Class III markets). Currently, 173 markets are invested in, built, and managed by the state. The remaining markets are invested in, managed, and operated by businesses and cooperatives. It is estimated that these markets create jobs for more than 25,000 workers.

Specifically, Bac Giang province has developed two more markets, including Ninh Son Market and Nui Hieu Market, in Van Ha ward, with a total investment of 10.5 billion VND from the state budget. Local authorities have integrated various funding sources (National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, National Target Program for building new rural areas, etc.) totaling over 73 billion VND to repair, renovate, and upgrade 18 markets.

This includes several markets such as: Ke, My Do, in Bac Giang ward; Kep market, Kep commune; Duong Huu market, Duong Huu commune... In addition, the former Bac Ninh province also invested tens of billions of VND to renovate and upgrade traditional markets such as: Chau Cau, Chau Phong ward; Nam Son, Nam Son ward; Chi Long, Yen Trung, in Yen Phong commune... The renovation and upgrading of these markets helps ensure food safety and hygiene, prevent and control fires and explosions, combat environmental pollution, build a civilized commercial environment, and contribute to building a clean, beautiful, civilized, and modern area.

Besides markets built and renovated with state investment, there are also many markets invested in by businesses. For example, Green Environment Co., Ltd. invested over 142 billion VND (excluding land lease fees) to implement the "Project to build a Class II market in Nenh town" in Nenh ward, with a total area of ​​over 18,300 m2, including a modern 3-story main market building (with escalators and elevators), 100 2-story kiosks, and 180 sales points. Mr. Nguyen Bach Dang, Deputy Director of the company, said that after completion and operation (expected in October 2025), the new Nenh market will replace the old Nenh market, meeting the increasing needs of local residents and workers coming to work and reside in the area.

In recent years, e-commerce has continuously developed and become dominant. Therefore, the traditional retail business model through markets is at risk of disappearing in many places. To attract people to shop at the markets, Bac Giang and Bac Ninh (formerly) provinces have continuously focused on and invested in renovating and upgrading traditional markets. At the same time, they have attracted investment to build traditional markets in a civilized and modern direction. Among these examples is Yen Market in Kinh Bac ward.

According to Mr. Nguyen Kinh Quyen, former Chairman of the People's Committee of Kinh Bac ward (old), Yen Market has existed for a long time. Previously, Yen Market mainly served the people of Yen Man village. However, due to the rapid development of Bac Ninh city (old) and the increasing population density, the local government has planned a new land area of ​​nearly 2 hectares, next to Provincial Road 286 (about 2 km from the old Yen Market), to build a modern commercial and service area to replace the old Yen Market. Currently, the province has cleared the land and is attracting investment.

Bac Ninh province is striving to become a centrally-governed city in the near future. Therefore, the development of trade and services (including traditional markets) is extremely necessary and needs continued attention. These markets not only meet the needs of local residents but also cater to the needs of workers from all over who come to Bac Ninh to live and work in industrial zones and other commercial and service activities.

Text and photos: Dai La

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/cho-truyen-thong-can-dien-mao-moi-postid421221.bbg