The enchanting Clay Market of the Western Region on the 28th day of the Lunar New Year.

Located in My An Hung commune, Dong Thap province, Dat Set Market is a quintessential rural market of the Mekong Delta. On the 28th day of the 12th lunar month, this rural market becomes bustling and full of emotion for many local people.

Around 4:30 a.m., while the air was still misty, the small roads leading to the center of the commune began to fill with people. Motorbikes loaded with vegetables, fish, and meat lined up to enter the market. Some small traders from neighboring hamlets brought their own produce, either grown or caught that day.

The 28th day of the lunar month is when people prepare the year-end offering tray and food for the first days of the new year, so the supply of goods is much more abundant than usual. Pork, free-range chicken, duck, snakehead fish, and tilapia fill the stalls. Banana leaves, string, sticky rice, and mung beans used for making banh tet (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) sell very well. Dried fish, fish sauce, and dried shrimp are also bought and stocked up.

An elderly woman, beaming with joy, embraces a bouquet of Tet flowers amidst the bustling market on the morning of the 28th day of the 12th lunar month.

PHOTO: NGUYEN KY ANH

Between 6 and 8 o'clock is the peak time, with buyers and sellers exchanging goods busily and quickly. The shouts of vendors mingled with greetings and inquiries about business and children, creating a festive atmosphere typical of the Mekong Delta region.

The fresh fruit stall offers tangerines, pomelos, dragon fruit, and more, perfect for the traditional five-fruit offering for Tet (Vietnamese New Year).

PHOTO: NGUYEN KY ANH

The mobile grocery stalls sell all sorts of things, from candies and fruits to children's toys.

PHOTO: NGUYEN KY ANH

People transport flowers on motorbikes after the morning market on the 28th day of the 12th lunar month.

PHOTO: NGUYEN KY ANH

Compared to normal days, the 28th day of the lunar month sees many more stalls selling flowers and fruits for Tet (Lunar New Year). Chrysanthemums, marigolds, and small potted apricot blossoms are neatly arranged at the entrance. Watermelons, custard apples, papayas, mangoes, pineapples… a variety of colors for the five-fruit offering on the first day of the year. Around 9 a.m., many stalls begin to pack up. The market on the 28th day of Tet ends earlier than usual because everyone wants to go home to take care of end-of-year matters.

The familiar baskets and containers used by people in the Mekong Delta become more vibrant in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year).

PHOTO: NGUYEN KY ANH

Nguyen Ky Anh, a young photographer born and raised in My An Hung, captured the emotional scene of the Clay Market on the 28th day of the Lunar New Year through a series of photographs. Sharing about the photo series, Ky Anh said that every year he returns to his hometown for Tet and always goes to the market early in the morning.

"The market has been there since my grandmother was young, and now I'm an adult. There, I meet familiar uncles and aunts, and we greet each other. Some still remember me, some don't. Some have grown older, and some are no longer here. What moves me is the quiet transformation of people in a space that has remained almost unchanged," Kỳ Anh shared.

The colorful and appealing cuisine of the rural market attracts tourists.

PHOTO: NGUYEN KY ANH

What is it like to visit the Clay Market in the Mekong Delta during the spring season?

From Ho Chi Minh City, tourists can travel by car via the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong expressway, then turn towards Sa Dec and continue towards Lap Vo to My An Hung commune. The distance is approximately 160-170 km, and the travel time is 4-5 hours depending on traffic conditions.

Small traders introduce green-skinned pomelos to customers buying them for Tet (Lunar New Year) celebrations at Dat Set Market.

PHOTO: NGUYEN KY ANH

The best time to visit the market is between 5 and 8 a.m. Visitors should bring appropriate footwear as the market streets can be wet. When taking photos or videos, please ask permission from the vendors to ensure respect for the environment.

After visiting the market, you can combine it with a trip to Sa Dec to visit the flower village, enjoy Sa Dec noodle soup, or stroll along the riverbank to experience the rhythm of life in the Mekong Delta in the days leading up to Tet.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dep-me-man-cho-mien-tay-dat-set-ngay-28-tet-185260215204930632.htm