Phu Day is one of the most popular tourist destinations at the Vieng Market Festival.
According to Mr. Tran Minh Hoan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Vu Ban commune, Ninh Binh province, the 2026 Vieng Spring Market Festival in Vu Ban commune will be inaugurated on the evening of the 6th day of the first lunar month and will last until the 8th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Horse (February 22-24, 2026). The Vieng Spring Market here, also known as Vieng Phu Market, is one of the most unique markets in the Northern Delta region, deeply marked by history, beliefs, and the culture of wet rice agriculture .
THE UNIQUE LUCKY DRAWING MARKET OF THE NORTHERN VIETNAM DELTA REGION
According to ancient documents, the Vieng Market has existed since very early times and is held only once a year, on the night of the 7th and the morning of the 8th of the first lunar month. In the book "Customs of An Thai Commune of Dong Doi District," currently preserved at the Institute of Han Nom Studies (catalog number AF a11/35), compiled by village headman Tran Van Giai in 1850, the Vieng Market is recorded as a large market, held only once a year, popularly known as "Thien Tien Market" - the market of the fairies in heaven, or "Heavenly Market."
By 1893, Vieng Market was again mentioned in the Nam Dinh Geographical Gazetteer by the Nam Dinh School Principal Nguyen On Ngoc, demonstrating the significance and enduring vitality of this market in the lives of the inhabitants of the Red River Delta region.
Agricultural tools are a popular item for sale at Vieng Market.
The old Vieng Market took place in the open space from the Khong Temple to the front of the Tien Huong Palace, associated with the worship of Saint Nguyen Minh Khong - the founder of the bronze casting craft. Therefore, the traditional goods at the market were mainly bronze and iron goods, agricultural tools, and handicrafts from famous craft villages in the region such as Tong Xa bronze casting, Bao Ngu and Van Chang blacksmithing, Tien Hao and Ho Sen rattan and bamboo weaving, Ho Son, Ngo Trang, and Van Bang lacquerware, La Xuyen and Ninh Xa fine wood carvings, and Tu Vinh smoked bamboo products.
A unique feature of Vieng Market is the presence of stalls selling used household goods and agricultural tools – items that may seem old but carry the meaning of "selling misfortune, buying good luck." In addition, stalls selling seedlings and ornamental plants always attract a large number of visitors with a variety of bonsai, flowers, fruit trees, and forestry trees, mainly brought in from Nam Dien, Nam Truc, and surrounding areas.
The Vieng Market wouldn't be complete without flower stalls.
Local authorities are also preparing a dossier to submit to the competent authority for recognition of Vieng Xuan Market in Vu Ban commune as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, aiming to develop Vu Ban commune into a spiritual tourism center of Ninh Binh province.
Mr. Tran Minh Hoan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Vu Ban commune, Ninh Binh province.
More than just a marketplace, Vieng Market is also an outdoor "exhibition fair," a vibrant display of products from the fertile agricultural countryside, clearly reflecting the social structure, beliefs, crafts, and spiritual life of the inhabitants of the Northern Delta region. Almost everyone who goes to Vieng Market buys something to take home, because according to folk belief, going to the market without buying anything will bring bad luck for the whole year.
Closely associated with Vieng Phu Market is the Phu Day historical and cultural relic complex, the shrine dedicated to Saint Mother Lieu Hanh. Therefore, besides buying and selling, visitors also go to the temple and shrine to pray for good fortune, wealth, national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and a bountiful harvest. The market is also a space for many folk games and traditional art forms such as swinging, card games, human chess, calligraphy, clay figurine making, Cheo singing, Chau Van singing, etc., creating a vibrant festival atmosphere rich in national cultural identity.
Today, although the market space has been expanded, stretching from Goi town along National Highway 37B through many communes, Vieng Xuan Market still retains its spirit and core cultural values from ancient times. Every year, the market attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors, with some years seeing such large crowds that traffic jams extend for tens of kilometers.
Mr. Tran Minh Hoan said that after implementing the two-tiered local government model, the local government has planned to organize the Vieng Spring Market Festival on a larger and more organized scale.
MANY COMMUNITIES COOPERATE TO ORGANIZE VIENG MARKET
According to Mr. Tran Minh Hoan (also the former Secretary of the Vu Ban District Party Committee), after the merger and abolition of the district level, the former Vu Ban district now only has 4 communes: Minh Tan commune, Vu Ban commune, Hien Khanh commune, and Lien Minh commune. In addition, some communes were merged into the former Nam Dinh city area to form wards.
Previously, the Vieng Market Spring Festival was organized by the Vu Ban District People's Committee; from 2026 onwards, it will be organized by Vu Ban Commune. However, because the Vieng Market spans across several communes, the organization will require coordination with neighboring communes.
On January 19, 2026, the People's Committee of Hien Khanh commune (Ninh Binh province) held a meeting of the Organizing Committee for the 2026 Vieng Spring Market to finalize preparations for the traditional spring market. Mr. Tran Van Quan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hien Khanh commune and Head of the Organizing Committee for the 2026 Vieng Spring Market, stated that the plan is for the 2026 Vieng Spring Market to take place over two days, from February 23 to 24, 2026 (the 7th and 8th days of the first lunar month of the Year of the Horse) at the Trung Thanh commune stadium. Hien Khanh commune will not hold an opening ceremony for the Vieng Spring Market, as the opening ceremony will be held in Vu Ban commune.
Mr. Tran Van Quan: The Vieng Market Festival in Hien Khanh commune is held over two days, the 7th and 8th of January in the year of the Horse (Binh Ngo).
The Organizing Committee has been implementing the plan and managing all activities, organizing the Vieng Spring Market; creating favorable and safe conditions for organizations and individuals to sell goods and visit the traditional Vieng Market. Furthermore, it coordinates with departments and agencies in the commune to ensure security, order, traffic, fire prevention and control, and food safety, so that the Vieng Spring Market in Hien Khanh commune in 2026 will take place in a joyful, healthy, and safe atmosphere.
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Pham Xuan Thao, Secretary of the Party Committee of Hien Khanh commune, requested the Organizing Committee to promptly assign specific tasks, do a good job of propaganda and promotion, ensure security and order, traffic safety, fire prevention and control, and medical care, thereby contributing to promoting the image of Hien Khanh's culture and people as modern, civilized, and compassionate.
At the same time, it is requested that specialized departments proactively develop detailed plans, coordinate closely, and effectively manage activities at the market, ensuring that all organizational aspects are carried out in accordance with regulations, so that the Hien Khanh Spring Vieng Market in 2026 will be a great success, leaving a good impression on the people and tourists.
Source: https://vneconomy.vn/de-xuat-cong-nhan-cho-vieng-phu-la-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-cap-quoc-gia.htm
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