The charm of Kim Bong rural market

The Kim Bong rural market area. Photo: QUOC TUAN

Authentic taste of a rural market

The Kim Bong rural market took place at a rather special time, just a few days before Cam Kim commune was to become part of the new Hoi An ward of Da Nang city. Perhaps partly because of this, the number of people visiting the Kim Bong rural market exceeded the organizers' expectations.

According to the People's Committee of Cam Kim commune, despite being postponed due to bad weather and the approaching transition period for the local administration model, those organizing the event made great efforts and showed great dedication to ensure the market took place as planned.

Lost in the hazy twilight smoke of Kim Bong market, visitors feel transported back in time to immerse themselves in the rustic atmosphere of the renowned Kim Bong traditional carpentry village – a place that has contributed to the heritage value of Hoi An ancient town.

More than just a market steeped in the rural spirit of Quang Nam province, Kim Bong rural market is also a vibrant cultural space, recreating "Memories of rural markets in the mid-20th century" associated with Hoi An Ancient Town.

An international tourist intently watches an elderly woman preparing betel quid at a rural market. Photo: QUOC TUAN

A "feast" of the countryside is set up by the old riverbank with Quang Nam cuisine, folk games, country music ... Out on the river, boats along the Thu Bon River slowly stir the water, carrying tourists along to listen to the rhythmic tapping of fishing nets, the sound of waves lulling the shore, and the call-and-response folk songs, echoing the sounds of the old fishing village.

Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: “Visiting the market was an impromptu activity during our Da Nang - Hoi An trip , but it was the most enjoyable experience for my family. The most touching sight was the elderly women sitting on banana leaves, smiling warmly and inviting customers to buy agricultural products. It brought back nostalgic childhood memories of going to the market with my mother.”

Calculate long-term attractiveness.

According to Ms. Do Thi Bich Thuy, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cam Kim commune, the event was planned to take place on the evening of April 11th (the 16th day of the lunar month), a time when the full moon would add to the appeal of the rural market, but due to bad weather, it had to be postponed. This is the first of three trial market sessions that the locality plans to organize before considering maintaining them on a monthly basis to serve residents and tourists.

It is necessary to calculate the appropriate load capacity and preserve the identity of the rural market so that this event maintains its long-term appeal to tourists. Photo: QUOC TUAN

The Kim Bong rural market is clearly very attractive, with thousands of visitors flocking to the event on the evening of April 14th. However, improvements are needed to maintain its appeal in the long term.

Cam Kim has recently been oriented towards becoming a green destination, so some previous smaller-scale rural markets, integrated with the Kim Bong carpentry village festival, conveyed the message of not using plastic bags and reducing plastic waste. However, at the recent event, due to the pressure of serving a large number of visitors, there were still scattered instances of people using plastic bags for convenience.

Furthermore, over the years, several unique traditional markets have emerged in Hoi An City to serve both locals and tourists. While these markets initially attracted large crowds, they gradually declined due to a lack of novelty and distinctiveness, a prime example being the Hoi An OCOP (One Commune One Product) market. Therefore, the organizers of the Kim Bong rural market need to maintain the market's unique character if they want the event to have a lasting presence.

Furthermore, the scale of the event is also a matter to consider. In the limited space along the riverbank next to the old ferry terminal, a suitable carrying capacity needs to be calculated in the long term to ensure a complete visitor experience and avoid excessive commercialization, which could cause the event to lose its rustic, authentic charm as it was at the beginning.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/phong-vi-cho-que-kim-bong-3156825.html