The Lao Bao Border Market is a cultural and trade event, the first of its kind organized by the People's Committee of Lao Bao town, Huong Hoa district, at the Lao Bao Trade Center. Its aim is to introduce and promote the cultural identity, potential, and strengths of tourism and border trade ; and to boost investment attraction for socio-economic development in the locality. It also provides an opportunity for folk artisans and culture and art enthusiasts from within and outside the Lao Bao area, Huong Hoa district, and some villages in Laos to meet, exchange ideas, promote the unique traditional cultural values of the residents on both sides of the border, and strengthen solidarity, friendship, cooperation, and mutual trust between Vietnam and Laos.
Cultural exchange and artistic performances at the Lao Bao border market - Photo: NTH
In Lao Bao during the final days of 2024, the streets became more bustling and vibrant, welcoming the stream of people from both sides of the border who flocked to the market right next to the Lao Bao - Densavanh International Border Gate. Following the crowd, many customers stopped by the shop selling woven brocade items owned by Savang Inthithep and his family in Densavanh district, Laos, and chose eye-catching brocade shirts and scarves.
Mr. Savang Inthithep said: “My colleagues and I have been in Lao Bao town since the day before the fair opened to prepare the necessary steps for setting up our booth. Our products are mainly brocade fabrics, selected from various regions of Laos. Here, we only sell affordable products, suitable for consumer needs. If customers want to order high-end brocade products, we will arrange delivery later.”
Along with colorful brocade items, Mrs. Muoi's stall in Sepon district, selling Lao specialties like "sum," spring rolls, and grilled chicken, was also bustling with customers. Through a Vietnamese interpreter, Mrs. Muoi introduced her stall's signature grilled chicken. She buys the chicken from Seno, a small town located at the intersection of Highway 13 and National Highway 9, running east-west, connecting Savannakhet (Laos) with Dong Ha ( Quang Tri ).
Seno chicken is grilled over charcoal and served with hot sticky rice and a spicy and sour dipping sauce. This dish is popular with both locals and tourists because of its unique and delicious flavor compared to other grilled chicken dishes.
"My restaurant is quite popular in Laos because of its authentic, high-quality dishes. Participating in the market is an opportunity for me to promote the specialties of my homeland and increase revenue for my restaurant," Ms. Muoi shared.
The Lao Bao Border Market not only features characteristic goods from residents on both sides of the Lao Bao - Densavanh border, but also agricultural products, OCOP (One Commune One Product) products, and signature dishes from communes and towns throughout Huong Hoa district. Some business owners and individual traders from across the province also come to promote and introduce their products. Ms. Ho Hoa My from Dakrong district brought rice, chicken, and regional specialties from Dakrong district such as sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes and grilled meat in bamboo tubes to the market. Through this, she engaged in cultural exchange, promoted her hometown's characteristic products, and sought opportunities for cooperation, business, and year-end festivities.
Ms. Trang Nhung from Bo Ban, Trieu Phong district, came to the market to find business partners and characteristic goods and products sold in the mountainous town of Lao Bao, in order to connect with them and bring them back to Bo Ban market for sale. “Through markets like this, I can connect with business partners to exchange characteristic goods from ethnic minority areas to sell in the lowlands, and vice versa, bring characteristic goods from the plains and coastal areas to exchange in the border region. Border markets are therefore very attractive to us,” Ms. Trang Nhung shared.
According to Le Ba Hung, Chairman of the Lao Bao Town People's Committee: “The Lao Bao Border Market will be organized and officially operate from December 21, 2024 to the 19th day of the 12th lunar month, with one market session every Saturday. This first Lao Bao Border Market features over 50 stalls, including agricultural and forestry products from the Van Kieu and Pa Ko ethnic groups, OCOP products from Huong Hoa district, characteristic culinary products, and brocade products from the Lao people. We hope it will become a unique and novel destination, attracting many tourists to this beautiful town. In 2025, we will study the possibility of organizing a market session every weekend. This will not only be a place to display and promote local agricultural and specialty products, but also offer tourists the opportunity to experience the unique culture of the highland ethnic groups through folk art performances.” Traditional music and entertainment in an open space in the mountain town of Lao Bao.
Thanh Hai
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/doc-dao-hap-dan-cho-phien-bien-gioi-lao-bao-190770.htm
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