On the first day of the Lunar New Year, people flock to one of Vietnam's most unique markets.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - As one of the 100 most unique markets in Vietnam, Go Market in Tuy Phuoc commune, Gia Lai province, has become a springtime meeting place where people buy and sell goods seeking good fortune and prosperity, and express their hopes for a peaceful and prosperous new year.

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, tens of thousands of locals and tourists flocked to Go Market in Tuy Phuoc commune, Gia Lai province, creating a unique traditional cultural spectacle and marking the beginning of the new year with faith and hope.

From the early morning, when the spring mist still lingers, Go Market begins to open. Around 3-4 am, vendors carrying baskets of fresh green vegetables, fresh fish, betel nuts, and betel leaves hurry to the market.

People flocked to the Go Market on the morning of the first day of Tet (Photo: Cong Son).

As soon as the sun rose, the small market was packed with people, not only from Tuy Phuoc commune but also from neighboring areas, who brought their own produce to trade.

Go Market is not just a place for exchanging goods, but also a space of faith and hope. Sellers hope for a successful start to their business, buyers choose a few symbolic items for good luck, and everyone believes that a smooth beginning will bring good fortune for the whole year.

Ms. Mai Thi Bay (55 years old, Tuy Phuoc Tay commune, Gia Lai province), who has been going to the market with her mother since childhood, shared: “People go to the market to buy betel nuts and leaves as a New Year's ritual, adding a bunch of water spinach to pray for good fortune. Going to the market is not only for buying and selling to seek good luck, but also to meet and wish each other a peaceful new year.”

At the first market of the year, price isn't the biggest concern. Sellers just hope for the first customer; buyers don't haggle much either, because what they're looking for is good fortune for the spring, and the belief in a prosperous year ahead.

People come to Go Market to buy lucky charms (Photo: Cong Son).

For generations, Go Market has become a part of the Tet (Lunar New Year) memories of the local people. Unlike the noisy, bustling shopping malls, the market retains the rustic charm of a rural village. Goods are displayed on tarpaulins, and buyers and sellers exchange smiles more often than calculations of profit.

According to the elders, Go Market has existed for a long time, closely intertwined with the spiritual life of the local residents. Despite the passage of time and changes in lifestyle, the custom of holding the market on the morning of the first day of the lunar month remains preserved. Young children follow their grandparents and parents to the market early in the morning, and as they grow up, they continue this habit as a way of extending family tradition.

More than just a place for exchanging goods, Go Market is also a space for socializing at the beginning of spring. After a busy year of earning a living, many people take advantage of this opportunity to visit and wish their friends and relatives a Happy New Year. Amidst the bustling crowds, handshakes and wishes for prosperity and good fortune resound. Some people come to the market simply to immerse themselves in the lively atmosphere and relive the feeling of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) of the past.

Crowds flock to Go Market on the morning of the first day of Tet (Photo: Cong Son).

For many families, going to Go Market has become a New Year's ritual. After offering incense to their ancestors, the whole family goes out together, immersing themselves in the bustling atmosphere of the first market of the year.

In the modern pace of life, where many traditional values ​​are gradually fading, the fact that tens of thousands of people in Gia Lai still maintain the habit of going to Go Market on the first day of Tet shows the enduring vitality of a cultural tradition rich in identity.

Amidst the vibrant spring atmosphere, the crowds flocking to the Go Market on the first day of the Lunar New Year thus become a meaningful image, a symbol of community cohesion and faith in the good things that await them in the future.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/mung-1-tet-nguoi-dan-den-mot-trong-nhung-phien-cho-doc-dao-nhat-viet-nam-20260217142711431.htm