While many were still asleep, the streets quietly began their day. Without noise or commotion, the streets awakened from the glowing hearths of kitchens, the skilled hands at work, and the regular rhythm of life of people who have lived there for generations. At two in the morning, Nguyen Cong Tru Street was still quiet, but behind the half-closed doors, life had already begun.
For over 40 years, the rhythm of life for Mrs. Phan Thi Huong's family has remained the same. After marrying and becoming a daughter-in-law on this street, Mrs. Huong's life has been intertwined with making pork sausage, selling spring rolls, and steamed rice cakes – a trade passed down from her parents-in-law. In the quiet night, skilled hands nimbly prepare the ingredients. Some prepare the leaves, others grind the meat, and still others make the rice cakes… The work repeats itself every day, regularly and persistently.
"I've gotten used to it; I just wake up on time. It's tiring but fun, because I'm still preserving my family's craft. Now, almost everyone in the city knows about Huong Long Pork Sausage with Pepper," Mrs. Huong shared.
For decades, the trades of making pork sausage, selling spring rolls, and steamed rice cakes have been quietly associated with Nguyen Cong Tru Street. For many women here, it's not just a livelihood, but also a cherished profession and a family memory to be preserved.
"When my parents were alive, they made this, and now it's my generation and my children's generation who make and sell spring rolls and breakfast food here. The profit isn't much, but the best part is that no matter how far away people are, when they come back to the village, they always stop by the shop to enjoy the food," shared Mrs. Nguyen Thi Trung, owner of a spring roll, rice noodle, and spring roll stall on Nguyen Cong Tru Street.
In a different light, the early morning market corners enrich the urban culture of Ha Tinh . Every day, from 4 a.m., Ha Ton Muc Street, near Ha Tinh market, begins to bustle. In the lingering morning mist, trucks carrying vegetables from the outskirts arrive one after another, bringing with them the smell of earth and night dew. Flashlights and vehicle headlights quickly sweep across the kind faces, signaling the start of an early morning market.
The vegetables were hastily placed by the vendors on tarpaulins or in styrofoam boxes. There were few greetings or bargaining, just familiar glances and brief nods, enough to understand each other after many years at the market.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, a farmer from Thach Lac commune who sells vegetables here, shared: “The vegetables here are mainly grown by people from Thach Lac, Dong Kinh, Cam Binh communes, etc., and brought here to sell. We wake up at 2 a.m. to prepare our goods for the market and arrive here at 3 or 4 a.m. This season, we mainly sell spinach, green onions, and various kinds of cabbage… The prices are good this time, so everyone is happy, and going to the market is more enjoyable.”
The market dispersed at dawn. The early morning market lasted just over an hour, but it was enough to leave a unique rhythm of life in the city. Amidst the changing urban landscape, the rustic charm of the countryside remained intact in every glance, every drop of sweat in the early morning.
As the sun rises, the streets of Ha Tinh enter a different rhythm. The roads are no longer quiet; instead, they are filled with the rhythmic footsteps of people.
While the central square bustles with jogging groups, the areas around the lakes are filled with folk dance troupes creating a warm and intimate community atmosphere. Thus, the mornings in the city are not only the start of a new day, but also a time for people to connect with each other through everyday activities.
"Every morning, my sisters and I go to Bong Son Lake to practice folk dances. It's good for our health, and we get to meet and chat, so the new day starts off much more lightly and happily," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Kham (Thanh Sen Ward).
The city awakens, and the urban landscape becomes vibrant. Bustling streets fill the air with people coming and going. Amidst this urban transformation, some corners still preserve the memories of the past. Even though the streets have changed, the roads have been widened and modernized, and the roofs have been repainted, on Ha Huy Tap street, the scent of malt syrup and fresh ginger blended with the aroma of sugarcane molasses still lingers through the years. It is this scent that has given this street its familiar name – Cau Phu Street, known for its delicious "cu do" candy.
Sharing about the origins and formation of the craft village, Ms. Dang Thi Thanh, owner of the Thu Vien Dang Thanh Cu Do production facility, confided: “In the past, my parents' small roadside stall along National Highway 1 sold green tea and peanut candy to passersby. Then, I came up with the idea of applying the processing formula of Huong Son Cu Do candy and peanut candy to produce Thu Vien Cu Do. The blend of traditional Cu Do and peanut candy creates a thin, crispy but not hard layer of candy, with crunchy peanuts, a perfectly balanced sweetness, and a distinct rich, nutty flavor. When my family started making and selling Cu Do steadily, gradually the whole street followed suit.”
The names "Cu Do Cau Phu" and "Cu Do Thu Vien" originated from small roadside stalls along the highway in the past. From peanut candy served with green tea, the traditional craft of making Cu Do candy was formed and kept alive to this day. It is the quiet people, living in the heart of the city with nostalgia and a heart devoted to the craft, who have created a unique identity for Ha Tinh. This is also why tourists passing through often stop to buy a package of local gifts for family and friends.
The streets of Ha Tinh are bustling and noisy like any other city, but when the lights come on, the pace of life slows down. While in many cities, the night streets are illuminated by dazzling lights and vibrant music , the night streets of Ha Tinh are quiet, nestled beside warm charcoal stoves. The tea stalls and grilled corn and sweet potato vendors along the roadside preserve a very rustic rhythm of life in Ha Tinh, preventing the city from feeling alien. These stalls don't need signs or elaborate menus. Just a pot of hot tea and a few simple dishes are enough to keep people coming back.
Ms. Bien Thi Thuy from Tran Phu ward said: "I've been selling tea and grilled corn and sweet potatoes on this street for almost 20 years. These simple dishes from my childhood have followed me to the city to make a living, both to earn a living and to preserve the familiar flavors for those who visit my stall every night."
Amidst the aroma of roasted corn and potatoes, diners flock to the night market not only to rekindle memories and seek familiar flavors, but also to share everyday stories and put an end to the hardships of a day's work.
Taking a sip of tea by the warm charcoal stove and slowly observing the passersby, Ms. Hoang Thi Thu Huyen (Thanh Sen ward) said: "When the weather starts to get chilly, I often bring my children here. I feed them roasted corn and sweet potatoes, and I want them to relive a part of their parents' and grandparents' childhood memories. The feeling of sitting around the fire, waiting for the sweet potatoes and corn to cook, is just like when I was a child."
From the flickering lights at dawn to the warm glow of sweet potato stoves in the freezing late night, the streets of Ha Tinh appear truly simple and peaceful. Streets are not just for passing through, but for connecting with. It is the ordinary people and the quiet trades that have shaped the cultural characteristics of each street, contributing to the identity of Ha Tinh.
Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nhat-ky-pho-phuong-ha-tinh-post301526.html
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