The beloved rural markets

I've always loved rural markets. Wherever I go, whatever region I visit, I always want to stop by these traditional markets because they're not just places for buying and selling; they're also the voice and soul of the fields and rivers, the "identity" of the land.

When I go to the market, I love to head straight to the vegetable section early in the morning. There are all kinds of seasonal vegetables and fruits, freshly picked and harvested.

Water spinach, jute mallow, sweet potato leaves, okra, cabbage… are arranged neatly in baskets by the women; buyers flip them over, unsure which bunches to choose and which to discard. The vegetables are bundled neatly and generously with smooth, sturdy strands of sticky rice straw.

Seeing the vegetable stall immediately conjures up images of a plate of boiled water spinach with pickled eggplant or a bowl of crab soup with jute leaves and jasmine flowers, dispelling the summer heat. Then there are the bunches of guava, star fruit, longan, and lychee at the beginning of the season - simple yet sweet and wholesome.

Illustration: Tra My

The vegetable section was equally abundant. Under the shady canopy, there were sweet potatoes, potatoes, gourds, pumpkins, onions, carrots, turmeric, ginger, cucumbers… I'd pick a few to use for stewing or eating gradually. The most delightful and irresistible sight was the sticky corn vendor. I loved those small, white ears of corn still carrying the scent of the alluvial soil. The chewy, fragrant, sweet flavor was carefully cultivated by the rough, calloused hands of the women and mothers.

Over there is the area selling shrimp, fish, clams, crabs, and snails... For some reason, I only like freshwater fish, river shrimp, and pond snails: small but firm, with sweet meat. Clams and mussels cooked in a stew, with a few sprigs of coriander added, have a refreshing and delicate flavor. My father says these simple, rustic dishes taste better than any gourmet food in the world.

Another area I often frequented was the woven goods section. Baskets, sieves, carrying poles, and mats made of reeds, rattan, and bamboo shimmered with the ivory color of the woven strips, bathed in sunlight. Many items were even hung in the kitchen attic to catch smoke and retain heat, making them even more pliable and durable. I remember going to the market with my grandmother; she would always make sure to buy some woven goods there. Then, on the dike road back home, an old woman and a young child would trudge along, the child carrying a winnowing basket on her head instead of a hat, while the baskets and sieves were tied to the carrying pole she had just bought. She praised the market carrying pole for being sturdy, strong, light, and not hurting her shoulders. That carrying pole would accompany her back and forth across the fields and to countless markets, enduring the rhythm of her nimble footsteps.

At the end of the day, after strolling around, I would head to the food court. The rice cakes, sweet potato cakes, sticky rice cakes, fried cakes, porridge, vermicelli, and sweet sticky rice desserts were irresistibly delicious.

The treats at the rural market are cheap yet hearty, so heartwarming and memorable. Just a few thousand dong a bowl, you can eat until you're full, yet still crave more, and your feet won't want to leave. Savoring a cake or a bowl of rice noodle soup while listening to the lively chatter of the vendors, you feel a sense of peaceful and pleasant life.

The aroma of soy sauce or fish sauce, the glistening crab broth, the sprigs of fresh vegetables evoke the atmosphere of a small kitchen each afternoon, and one can even see the wisps of smoke rising from the lid of the glowing charcoal stove.

That's why every time I went to the market, I had to "buy a treat," whether I was a toddler following the adults or later going alone or with friends. And I remember so much the anticipation and waiting of my sisters and me for Grandma and Mom to come home from the market. A small treat in hand, yet it filled us with excitement throughout those childhood afternoons.

And somehow, I learned to mentally calculate market days like the grandmothers and mothers used to. It helped me plan ahead so I wouldn't miss it. Even though supermarkets and shopping malls are now everywhere, I'm still always eager to wander around a traditional market, a place where the spirit of the countryside lingers, deep, persistent, and overflowing with warmth and affection!

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/van-hoa-du-lich-van-hoc-nghe-thuat/van-hoc-nghe-thuat/202508/than-thuong-nhung-phien-cho-que-cca11f5/