Unique market that only operates for one hour at night.

(NLĐO) - The betel nut market at night in Quang Thanh commune, Thuy Nguyen district ( Hai Phong city) is quite unique as both sellers and buyers use flashlights to conduct transactions at night.

According to residents of Quang Thanh commune, Thuy Nguyen district (Hai Phong city), the betel nut market here is considered the largest wholesale market specializing in buying and selling betel nuts in the North. This is a unique market that only operates for exactly one hour (from 8 PM to 9 PM daily).

Traders are looking for the most beautiful bunches of betel nuts.

The market sells only one item: bunches of betel nuts harvested from gardens in Thuy Nguyen district. However, the betel nut market attracts many traders from the provinces of Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong , Hung Yen, and Hanoi. The market is open for 30 days a month, from mid-September to May of the following year, coinciding with the betel nut harvesting season.

Previously, the market was also known as Sang Market, located on both sides of National Highway 352. Vendors displayed their goods directly on the road, causing traffic safety hazards as the road lacked streetlights and had high traffic density.

Later, traders moved the market to a new area in Dong Lua hamlet, Quang Thanh commune, starting in 2009. In fact, during the day it remains a local market, only transforming into a betel nut market in the late afternoon.

To prepare for this market, other betel nut vendors in Thuy Nguyen district usually arrive at the market early. Those who arrive first display their betel nuts first, neatly arranging the bunches on the ground, while those who arrive later set up their goods afterward. Around 7:30 PM, after the vendors have finished displaying their goods, they wait for the market management to turn on the lights so they can conduct transactions.

Around 8 PM, when the market management switches on the lights, the buying and selling activity begins to liven up. However, under the dim light, all transactions involving the buying and selling of betel nuts are conducted using flashlights that people bring with them.

The buying and selling process lasts for exactly one hour. Regardless of whether there are goods in stock or not, whether the market is crowded or not, the market management will turn off the lights at precisely 9 PM. At this time, without anyone telling them, the sellers will quietly pack up their goods, and the buyers will quietly leave the market.

Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, a trader in Hanoi with many years of experience at Quang Thanh betel nut market, shared that this is the most diverse betel nut market in the entire North. To choose a beautiful bunch of betel nuts, buyers need to select bunches with full "hairs" (like tendrils), large, round fruits, flexible branches, and evenly distributed fruits. If a bunch of betel nuts lacks any of these criteria, it cannot be sold to buyers for ceremonial purposes.

The betel nut market is quite unique in that both buyers and sellers use flashlights to conduct transactions at night.

Explaining the reason for turning off the lights before each market session, Mr. Nguyen Van Duc, Head of the Cau Market Management Board in Quang Thanh commune, Thuy Nguyen district, said, "This custom has existed since ancient times to prevent people from scrambling to buy, and also to create fairness, so that those who arrive early and those who arrive later can all choose their preferred bunches of betel nuts."

For that reason, since its opening, this wholesale market has not experienced any disputes, arguments, or security breaches. The surcharge, including seating and parking fees, is 20,000 VND; there are no other charges.

This year's betel nut harvest has seen record-high prices for fresh betel nuts. At around 25,000 VND/kg at the end of April, the price rose to 50,000-55,000 VND in June and is currently at 80,000 VND/kg.

"At the beginning of the year, the price of fresh betel nuts also increased, but only fluctuated between 45,000 and 50,000 VND/kg. After typhoon No. 3, the price of fresh betel nuts gradually increased to 60,000 - 70,000 VND/kg and is currently peaking at 80,000 VND/kg, including branches and stems. The current price of fresh betel nuts is a record high in the last 10 years," said Ms. Thu (a betel nut seller).

Ms. Khanh (a trader in Hung Yen) said that due to several factors such as Typhoon No. 3 and increased purchasing by China, the price of betel nuts is high this year. But high input costs also mean high output prices, so both growers and traders are making a profit.

Mr. Long from Hung Yen province, who has over 20 years of experience in the profession, shared, "Success in this profession depends on luck; it's not something everyone can just do. Previously, I went to Thuy Nguyen and spent hundreds of millions of dong buying an entire betel nut plantation. However, due to various reasons and lack of experience, I suffered significant losses. When I learned about the betel nut market, I switched to buying betel nuts there to ensure quality."

Around 8 PM is when the buying and selling activity starts to get lively.

According to Mr. Long, there are two ways to buy betel nuts: buying the entire orchard and buying individually at the market. Buying individually is called "three mo," meaning three things that are dependent and precarious: low capital, low daily wages, and betel nut prices fluctuating depending on the buyer. Buying directly from the orchard can yield profits of several hundred million, even billions of dong per harvest, but it can also result in losses. Buying individually has a much lower loss rate, with profits only around one million dong per day, and sometimes only a few hundred thousand dong.

Mr. Thai, a trader from Thai Nguyen province, said that every day he leaves Thai Nguyen at 3 PM, buys betel nuts, and doesn't get home until 1 AM. The next morning, he goes to deliver them to various locations, regularly for 30 days a month, regardless of the weather. "Now that the roads are better, travel is easier. Although provinces like Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc also grow a lot of betel nuts, Thuy Nguyen betel nuts are preferred by buyers, who are willing to pay a higher price," Mr. Thai said.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/doc-dao-phien-cho-chi-hop-mot-tieng-trong-dem-196250130134855203.htm