Excited about the Muong ethnic market fair.

In the highland and mountainous communes of the Four Muong (Bi, Vang, Thang, Dong) region of Hoa Binh province, the weekly market is always bustling and attractive. On market day, while the morning mist still lingers on the mountain slopes, the people are already busy and enthusiastic heading to the market, bringing with them many unique and rare products found only in the countryside. Amidst the lively chatter and laughter, the market appears like a colorful painting, a gathering place of mountain and forest products and the rich cultural identity of the Muong people.

The Cattle Market in Lung Van commune is always bustling on Sundays and Tuesdays every week.

The weekly market is usually located in the center of a cluster of villages, with people from all over the region flocking to buy and sell. Unlike regular markets, weekly markets only meet on specific days, mainly Saturdays, Sundays, or an additional day of the week. Therefore, each market day is a familiar meeting place, always bustling and lively.

Visiting the Muong region and immersing yourself in its markets to explore the land, culture, and experience a miniature picture of the local people's lives is a fascinating experience. Among them, notable markets include: Bo Market (Van Son commune), Dung Phong Market (Muong Thang commune), Sao Market (Muong Vang commune), Lo Son Market (Toan Thang commune), Phu Luong Market (Quyet Thang commune), Ngoc My Market (Tan Lac commune)... From before dawn, the roads leading to the markets are bustling, and by the time the sun rises behind the mountains, they are filled with goods for sale.

Canarium fruit and fresh bamboo shoots - products of the mountains and forests sold at the local market.

Having the opportunity to visit the market on Saturdays and Sundays, we were captivated by the unique goods of the mountainous region, and many of the vendors were ordinary people, not professional traders. During this season, the highlanders often bring to the market products they've gathered from the forest, such as fresh bamboo shoots, bee larvae, wood ear mushrooms, wild olives, banana blossoms, mountain snails, forest rat meat... and various medicinal plants.

Besides that, there are vegetables, roots, fruits, and products that the local people grow or find themselves, such as: nutmeg seeds, crickets, grasshoppers, silkworms, stream fish and shrimp... Especially noteworthy are items typically found only in the Muong countryside, such as bamboo or tree trunk steamers, pipes and tobacco, bamboo chopsticks, pot holders, fish baskets, and carrying baskets... Livestock such as chickens, ducks, and pigs are also bought and sold for the people to raise and develop their economy .

Unique and exotic products from the mountainous region are sold by locals at the local market.

In the Van Son cloud valley, the Cattle Market, held every Sunday and Tuesday, is sure to captivate visitors with its mountain produce such as wild rat meat, coconut beetle larvae, long-shaped stream snails, and various mountain vegetables and tubers (fern, spotted yam, purple garlic...).

Visiting Dung Phong market once a week on Sunday, in addition to the products found in other regions, you'll also find stalls selling ethnic costumes, with colorful Muong blouses, skirts, and waistbands adding to the vibrant atmosphere of the market. On some days, there's even a corner selling Muong gongs, complete with large gongs, small gongs, gong mallets, and more.

Traditional Muong ethnic brocade adds vibrancy to the local market.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, traditional handcrafted items are still preserved and developed.

The Sao Market on Saturdays is equally bustling, particularly notable for its stalls selling items used in folk religious rituals by shamans, such as bells, small stones, yin-yang coins, and deer antlers. Mr. Bui Van Hien from Thuong Coc commune often comes to the Sao Market in Muong Vang commune to sell these special items. "The things I sell are very niche; not everyone understands or needs them, but I've been doing this for a long time," Mr. Hien shared.

Mr. Bui Van Hien's special stall sells items used in religious ceremonies.

Besides its vibrant colors, the market also boasts unique flavors created by delicious and inexpensive treats, most notably hot fried donuts. Most market stalls selling fried donuts are crowded, attracting not only children but also adults. These hot, golden-brown donuts, fried right in the market in bubbling hot oil, cost only 2,000 dong each or 10,000 dong for six.

The hot, freshly fried donuts at the market are incredibly tempting.

At the weekly market, many people are both sellers and buyers. They bring simple produce and goods to the market and buy items brought up from the lowlands, such as clothes, shoes, and household goods. Because the market only comes once a week, it's not just a place for exchanging goods, but also a meeting point, an opportunity for people to meet, socialize, and have fun after days working in the fields.

People come to the market to buy clothes for their children for the new school year.

The market usually only convenes in the morning, when the sun is high in the sky. People are hurrying to leave, so even after the market closes, everyone seems to linger and eagerly await the next session. This is also a fascinating experience that tourists, especially those from cities, should try to feel the life and culture of the mountain people.

With its unique values, if given proper attention, the traditional market can absolutely become an attractive tourism product on routes, tours, and itineraries exploring the land and local culture.

The mountainous commune of Vân Sơn has been planned to become a provincial-level tourist area by 2030 according to Resolution No. 13-NQ/TU dated October 17, 2022, of the Standing Committee of the former Hòa Bình Provincial Party Committee. After the merger, the area possesses all the potential and advantages for development. In particular, the cattle market is being studied for upgrading into a cultural market and expanding the night market, with the expectation that it will become an attractive and unmissable tourist product.

Secretary of the Party Committee of Van Son Commune, Nguyen Duy Tu

Cam Le

Source: https://baophutho.vn/hao-huc-cho-phien-xu-muong-239722.htm