Bustling market without haggling or overcharging in Binh Dinh

On January 22 (the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Cat), people from all over gathered at the Go fair (Phong Thanh quarter, Tuy Phuoc town, Tuy Phuoc district, Binh Dinh province). Many people from all over gathered here to pick the first lucky branches of the year, praying for national peace and prosperity, for everyone and every family to have a prosperous new year.

This is a market with strong cultural features of the martial arts land of Binh Dinh, ranked in the "100 most unique markets in Vietnam" because it only meets on the 1st and 2nd of the Lunar New Year each year.

From early morning, many people came to Go fair.

From early morning, many people gathered at Go market. This year, the fair took place in warm weather, so there were quite a lot of people in the province and tourists flocking to the market. Not much different from previous years, the unique market of Vietnamese Tet sells many items, most of which are home-grown items such as betel, papaya, salt, rice, green vegetables, fruits, etc.

What is special is that at Go market, sellers do not haggle and buyers do not bargain, do not focus on profit or loss, but everyone happily exchanges smiles as a way to create joy and wish each other peace on the first day of the new year.

Following her grandmother who sold betel and areca nuts at Go market on the first day of Tet since she was 15 years old, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hieu, in Tu Thuy village, Phuoc Hiep commune (Tuy Phuoc district) has been selling at the market for 20 years.

“After my grandmother passed away, I wanted to keep a memory of continuing to sell betel and areca nuts every year at Go market. Every time I attend this special market, I feel very happy, sometimes a little wistful about the emotional memories of my grandmother and grandchild,” she shared.

Legend has it that the Go fair is associated with a local legend. In the past, this place was an outpost of the Tay Son army stationed to protect Thi Nai port and the Imperial Citadel. When Tet came, Emperor Quang Trung issued an edict allowing the spring festival to be held at Go Truong Uc market, first for the people to enjoy the spring after the war of loss and hardship, and second for the army to enjoy the spring and ease their homesickness.

The edict also stipulates the time to celebrate spring from the first to the third day of Tet. Go Market is a place where there is no challenge or argument as usual and buying and selling is simply a way to give each other some spring luck, to wish everyone and every family a peaceful and prosperous new year, not simply for economic reasons.

Some pictures at Go Tet Quy Mao fair: