The beauty of the Lai Dong highland market

Each rural area possesses unique cultural characteristics, creating a distinct identity for its community. In Lai Dong commune, this beauty is clearly expressed through the highland markets, rich in ethnic identity, where not only is trade taking place, but also a cultural space where communities have been closely connected for generations.

The present-day Lai Dong commune was formed by merging the communes of Kiet Son, Dong Son, Tan Son, and Lai Dong. The people in the commune are mainly ethnic minorities. Lai Dong Market is considered the central market of the area, holding two main sessions per week on Mondays and Fridays.

From early morning, while the mist still enveloped the mountains, groups of people from distant villages descended to the market, bringing with them products from the mountains and fields to trade and sell.

Lai Dong market is held every Monday and Friday.

Each market day is not only a place for buying and selling goods, but also a place where people exchange stories about the harvest, family matters, connect with neighbors, and contribute to community bonding.

The Lai Dong market is particularly special because of the abundance and diversity of its goods, mostly local produce. Right from the market entrance, shoppers can easily spot women selling bundles of fresh, green wild vegetables and fragrant batches of sticky corn porridge.

Traditional agricultural products are sold at the market.

Ms. Dang Thi Binh, a resident of Ben Than, about 10km from the market, shared that for each market day, she wakes up at dawn to prepare the corn, dividing it into small bags priced at 10,000 VND each. "Each market day, I sell about 30 to 40 bags. The corn here is fragrant, chewy, and popular with many people; sometimes I sell out before the morning is over," Ms. Binh said jokingly.

Fever-reducing medicine and wild fern leaves, harvested from the mountains, are brought down to be sold at local markets.

Besides corn, the market is also notable for its stalls selling colorful brocade fabrics and precious medicinal plants from the forest. The Dao and Muong ethnic groups bring down to the market traditional remedies such as medicines for stomach aches, joint pain, liver tonics, blood tonics, and fever reducers. Ms. Lan, a Dao woman from Day hamlet, Thu Cuc commune, doesn't know how to ride a motorbike, so her husband drives her to the market every day. She brings bundles of wild vegetables and packets of herbal medicine gathered from the high mountains. "Each bundle sells for 15,000 dong. I gather them from very far away; I need to pick 40 to 50 bundles each market day to have enough to sell," she shared.

The simple yet colorful stalls reflect the vibrant life of the highlands, showcasing the natural production activities of the local people while also bringing a warm, intimate atmosphere to the market, imbued with a strong local identity.

Mr. Thuong – a small trader from Nghe An , currently living in Thanh Ba commune – said he is very familiar with the schedules of the local markets: Xuan Dai market is held on Saturdays, Lai Dong on Mondays and Fridays, Tan Phu on Fridays and Sundays, and Thu Ngac market on the 1st, 4th, and 7th of the lunar month... He travels to all the markets to trade, mainly onions, garlic, sticky rice cakes, molasses, and simple household goods. He observed: "On market days, the market is much busier than usual. The people here are honest, down-to-earth, and don't haggle much. They eagerly come to the market to shop whenever there's a market day."

Previously, Mr. Thuong mainly sold wild orchids. But when wild orchids were no longer as popular as before, he switched to other essential goods. For him, the markets are not just places for trading, but also familiar places that are an integral part of his daily life.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc, Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Lai Dong commune, the market plays a very important role in the socio -economic life of the local people. “Lai Dong market is an important hub, concentrating the trading and purchasing of agricultural products and specialties from the people. It also helps to find outlets for highland agricultural products, contributing to increasing people's income and developing household economies.”

Market fairs are not only places for trade and exchange but also contribute to preserving the unique traditional cultural features of each locality.

Besides its economic value, the local market also holds profound cultural significance. It preserves and spreads the traditional beauty of the ethnic minority communities here: from their brocade costumes and simple, rustic dishes to their voices, laughter, and genuine, heartfelt manners. In the context of modern development, markets like these become even more precious, serving as a spiritual anchor and a space for preserving community culture.

Currently, many mountainous localities are gradually developing community-based tourism and ecotourism associated with the preservation of cultural identity. Lai Dong market has the potential to become an attractive destination for tourists from near and far. Without elaborate embellishments, the most rustic and simple things – local products, friendly smiles, small stalls full of the colors of the mountains and forests – are enough to create a unique and unforgettable experience.

To achieve this, local authorities need appropriate solutions to preserve and promote the value of traditional markets: planning and upgrading market infrastructure; organizing neat and convenient trading spaces; encouraging people to preserve cultural identity in their trading activities; and connecting with the province's eco-tourism tours and routes.

With the attention of the government and the awareness of the people, it is believed that the Lai Dong highland markets will not only continue to play a role in trade and economic development but also become a highlight on the cultural and tourism map of Phu Tho province.

Vinh Ha

Source: https://baophutho.vn/net-dep-cho-phien-vung-cao-lai-dong-241382.htm