A variety of products for tourists to enjoy during the spring festival.

Recreating a scene of trading in a rural market.

It is commendable that many tourist areas organize various traditional Tet activities for visitors to participate in, with the highlight being the traditional Vietnamese village market...

Sai Gon Mui Ne resort recreates a corner of a traditional Vietnamese rural market.

International tourists from Germany, France, Slovakia, Russia, and many other countries, staying at numerous resorts, gathered at a traditional Vietnamese village market organized by Saigon Mui Ne Resort. At the market, foreign visitors had a delightful experience with the sight of women in traditional "ba ba" blouses, carrying baskets on their shoulders, and the calls and invitations to try various local dishes: stewed sweet potatoes, steamed sticky rice cakes, rice balls, boiled sweet potatoes, sweet soups, and crescent-shaped cakes… The festive atmosphere was further enlivened by the market's display of fresh vegetables and traditional games such as cockfighting and fish fighting, much to the delight of the visitors.

Village girls at the rural market on Tet (Lunar New Year).

Visitors also had the opportunity to participate in classes on wrapping banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), cooking braised bamboo shoots, and making pickled vegetables – essential dishes in the Tet (Lunar New Year) feast of Binh Thuan people. A Slovakian tourist, Christina, said: “I’ve seen dried bamboo shoots before, but I’ve never eaten them, so today’s cooking class was very special. I found them very delicious.”

Christina excitedly shared, “On the first day, everyone asked me to wear a traditional ao dai (Vietnamese dress) to the opening of the traditional Vietnamese market. It was then that I realized how special it was; the trading and festivities during Tet (Vietnamese New Year) are so interesting. So, throughout the market, I wore an ao dai. I wanted to learn more about traditional Vietnamese dishes for Tet, and it gave me wonderful memories during my stay here.”

Slovak tourists learn how to wrap bamboo shoots while eating traditional Vietnamese braised bamboo shoots.

In a traditional Vietnamese village market setting, visitors learn how to select ingredients, the main components of dishes, and how to cook authentic Binh Thuan cuisine. Even for Vietnamese tourists, Binh Thuan's braised bamboo shoots are still quite unfamiliar. Therefore, this dish is very different for international visitors. The class concludes with a tasting of the local specialty. Mr. Helmut Groeger, a German tourist, was surprised after the class and tasting of the traditional Vietnamese dish – braised bamboo shoots – saying: “It’s very delicious, and I will try making it at home to see if it’s the same as what I learned here. But I will definitely have to find some bamboo shoots in Vietnam to take home.”

Besides cooking classes, the small corners recreating the rustic charm of a traditional rural market also delight visitors. For Vietnamese tourists, the everyday sweet soups and traditional dishes evoke memories of carefree childhoods. International visitors, on the other hand, experience the simple beauty of Vietnamese villages. Furthermore, traditional folk games like cockfighting and fish fighting add excitement to the spring festivities.

Mr. Timbo Bang has been closely associated with the Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year) for many years.

Timbo Bang, a Finnish tourist who has been in Vietnam for 12 years, said: “I don’t know how to describe it, but Tet feels so familiar and interesting. I feel comfortable and happy being here during this time. The streets are bustling with activity, and it excites me about what the traditional Vietnamese Tet brings. I see vegetable vendors, simple dishes, fun activities – everything is there in a small space, but I’m sure everyone will enjoy it.”

Tourists experience learning to wrap banh chung (Vietnamese rice cakes) at Sai Gon Mui Ne Resort.

Ms. Nguyen Thi My Hanh, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, shared: “This year, my family chose to celebrate Tet in Phan Thiet from the 20th of the lunar month to the 6th day of Tet. First of all, I chose Phan Thiet because the transportation is more convenient now. Besides, we knew there was a traditional Tet market here, so the whole family came. It was really fun! So many simple, rustic dishes were sold by village girls, along with fun folk games. It suddenly reminded me of the old days, when times were tough. Spending Tet at the village market was just like that back then. My family and I really enjoyed it…”

Ms. Hanh's family (wearing yellow ao dai) enjoying themselves at the local market.

The village market is organized with the hope that through food, traditional markets, and folk games, traditional cultural features are conveyed clearly and authentically. There, visitors can experience and relive their own memories, thus providing them with a diverse range of cultural experiences during their vacation in Binh Thuan.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/da-dang-san-pham-cho-du-khach-vui-xuan-116971.html