Discover the unique market in Mang Den

Dubbed as “miniature Da Lat” with a cool climate all year round and vast landscape of primeval forests, lakes, streams and majestic waterfalls, Mang Den (Mang Den commune, Quang Ngai province) has become an attractive tourist destination for local people and domestic and foreign tourists.

The market is located under the green pine forest, creating a bustling picture in this peaceful land.

Cultural bridge

Once a small town in Kon Tum province (old), located at an altitude of 1,200 m above sea level, Mang Den is quite peaceful, surrounded by vast primeval forests, with green pine forests stretching out. Having the opportunity to experience this pristine land, I felt the friendliness, hospitality, and willingness to share stories about the land of the people here, mainly indigenous people with unique culture and traditional festivals.

My family initially chose Mang Den as a destination because they liked the cool, fresh air, which still retained the original beauty of the mountains and forests. However, when spending the days of relaxation here, what remained in that journey was the uniqueness of Mang Den market. Having only been in operation for nearly 2 years, the market here is not simply a place to buy and sell, but also a vibrant cultural bridge between national traditions and modern life, giving visitors unforgettable experiences.

The booths are designed harmoniously, following the characteristics of the region.

Located in the central square under the canopy of a lush green pine forest, the market opens from Friday afternoon to Sunday noon, creating a bustling picture in this peaceful town, attracting thousands of visitors every weekend. The stalls are harmoniously designed with about 30 stalls, mostly made from bamboo, wood, decorated in the typical features of the Central Highlands, creating a space imbued with tradition and close to nature.

The biggest plus point of this market is that it focuses on displaying and introducing the province's OCOP products, specialties that local people grow or exploit from nature, without mixing goods, clothes, household items... like markets in many other provinces and cities. Therefore, coming to the market, visitors can learn more about medicinal products such as: ginseng, co co lingzhi mushroom, green lim mushroom, angelica, wild honey, black ginger, bamboo shoots, wild sim, clean vegetables, tubers, fruits, souvenirs from brocade... All are sold with clear origins, reasonable prices and the sincere and honest sales attitude of the Mo Nam and Xo Dang ethnic people.

Village meals are cooked from fragrant sticky rice grains, grown by local ethnic people.

Unique cuisine

What makes it so special is the blend of local cuisine , products and culture. Not only sightseeing and shopping, we can also enjoy many dishes imbued with the cultural identity of the local people such as: grilled village pig, grilled fish, village rice with sticky rice grown by the local people, grilled jungle fowl with bamboo rice, smoked buffalo, kơ nia seeds - a unique seed found only in this highland region...

Besides, visitors can also admire swan squash - a fruit that is difficult to grow but rich in nutrients in this land, or fresh fish from rivers and streams, which are also "specialties" that are hard to find in other provinces.

Most visitors here praise the market.

The market is not only a place to display typical products, contributing to promoting local products, but also a place to connect the economy , exchange and expand market development opportunities. Tourist Nguyen Anh Thu from Ho Chi Minh City shared: “This is the third time I have returned to Mang Den, although it is just a small town, but each time I come is a new experience. Every time I come, I visit the market, because the space here is like a miniature picture of highland life, where nature and people together create a colorful intersection. Most of the dishes at the market are very delicious, suitable for the taste and quite affordable”.

Coming to the market, we can also immerse ourselves in the lively atmosphere, admire the bustling gong dance performances, listen to the T'rung instrument and enjoy the powerful singing voices of local artists. Depending on the weather conditions and reasonable time, the market also organizes many community activities and cultural exchanges so that visitors have the opportunity to understand more deeply about the lives of the ethnic people here and have a unique experience of the Central Highlands land with rich national identity.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/kham-pha-cho-phien-doc-dao-o-mang-den-392428.html