The spirit of spring in the Northern Vietnamese countryside.

VHO - Ninh Binh province has four Vieng markets. Although located in different rural areas, they all convene during the first days of the year and are usually associated with a specific temple or pagoda.

The Vieng Market in Nam Truc is located next to the Bi Pagoda dedicated to Tu Dao Hanh; the Vieng Market in Lieu De is held in the area of ​​the Trieu Quang Phuc Temple; the Vieng Market in My Loc is not far from the Tran Temple; and the Vieng Market in Vu Ban commune is associated with the Phu Day complex. Since ancient times, the Vieng Market in Vu Ban commune has often been held in front of the Khong Temple and on the road to Phu Chinh, hence it is also known as Vieng Phu Market or Phu Day Market.

Crowds of people flocked to the Vieng Market - Phu Day on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

To this day, there is still no satisfactory answer as to why there are so many Vieng markets in Ninh Binh , when the Vieng markets originated, and why they are called Vieng markets.

Some explain that Ninh Binh (formerly Nam Dinh ) is one of the cradles of rice-based civilization. Material and spiritual life here developed early. This development fostered a need for cultural and emotional exchange. Along with festivals and temples, markets and fairs are also effective means of exchange. This is one of the reasons explaining why Vieng Market can be found in many places throughout Ninh Binh.

Read this folk song about the traditional market activities in the southwestern part of Nam Dinh ward, Ninh Binh province, during the Lunar New Year: “On the first day of Tet, we celebrate at home / On the second day, we visit the market, on the third day, we visit the communal house / On the fourth day, we visit Qua Linh market / On the fifth day, Trinh market, on the sixth day, Goi market / We rest on the seventh day / On the eighth day, we go to Vieng market / Vieng market only has one session a year / The hat you wear, I bought it with my money...”

The exact time of origin of the folk song is unknown, only that it has been passed down through many generations. Therefore, Vieng Market has existed for a long time. The folk song doesn't specify the exact location of Vieng Market, but the place names mentioned, such as Qua Linh Market, Trinh Market, and Goi Market, are easily recognizable as Vieng Market in Phu Day. This is because these markets are located in the old Thien Ban area, along Highway 10 connecting Nam Dinh ward with Hoa Lu ward in Ninh Binh province.

Going to Vieng Market is about "buying good luck and selling bad luck," so neither sellers nor buyers haggle or bargain.

The Vieng Market - Phu Day is held only once a year, on the 8th day of the first lunar month. It is considered the most bustling of all the Vieng markets and has long been known throughout the country. People go to the market, whether to offer incense at Phu Day, visit the mausoleum of Mother Lieu Hanh, or to shop, all to pray for good fortune, blessings, prosperity, wealth, favorable weather, fertility, and abundance for the new year.

The goods at Vieng Market - Phu Day are abundant and diverse, but mainly consist of plants, animal breeds, agricultural tools, household implements, and religious items; if there are antiques, they are usually of a religious nature. It can be seen as a fair showcasing characteristic products from many rural areas. Bamboo products from Tu Vinh, Thanh Hoa ; iron products from Bao Ngu, Tong Xa; wooden products from Le Xa, La Xuyen; plants and animal breeds from Nam Dien, Nam Truc... The prices of these items and products are reasonable. Sellers don't overcharge, and buyers don't haggle.

At Vieng Market in Phu Day, two specialties attract more attention from visitors from all over: roasted veal and Thanh Hoa's Duong Treo sugarcane. Duong Treo sugarcane is no longer available; instead, yellow-fleshed, reddish-brown sugarcane, also from Thanh Hoa and Ninh Binh (formerly), is now available. Even amidst the bustling crowds and lively atmosphere, most people carry a sugarcane stalk. They buy it for good luck, to quench their thirst, and it's also a convenient alternative to a walking stick when climbing Linh Son Pagoda to offer incense and admire the sacred, poetic scenery of the sky, clouds, rivers, and mountains.

Nowhere else sells as much roasted veal as Vieng Market in Phu Day. It's the most popular item after seedlings, livestock, and ornamental plants. Rows of roasted veal stalls stretch for hundreds of meters along the roads leading into Phu Day market. It's an expensive item, but buyers still flock and crowd together. It's safe to say that in just one day, tens of tons of roasted veal are transported by tourists to various regions. Buyers purchase small amounts, from a few hundred grams or a kilogram to tens of kilograms or more. The roasted veal is packed in bags and loaded onto trucks arriving from Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Hung Yen, Hai Phong, Hanoi, and other places.

In recent years, thanks to the attention of the authorities at all levels, the Vieng Market - Phu Day has expanded and become increasingly lively. The market is held in many locations: from the stadium of Hoang Van Thu High School to Phu Van, Phu Chinh, along Highway 56, from Ong Khong Temple to Goi town. Although the market has different names such as Vieng Market, Vieng Phu Market, Vieng Xuan Market, and Xuan Market, everyone understands that it is the Vieng Market - Phu Day in Tien Huong, Van Cat, Vu Ban commune, Ninh Binh province. Every year, people eagerly await the night of the 7th and into the 8th to go to the market. The crowds are immense, and everyone's face is radiant with the arrival of spring!

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/hon-xuan-cua-mien-que-bac-bo-196062.html