There, the sparkling stones are sold, and the stories surrounding them create a unique charm for this place.
I arrived in Luc Yen at dusk. The lights emanating from the shops were quite striking, overshadowing the yellowish streetlights. It was my first time there, and I was quite surprised, because it didn't resemble a remote mountain village at all; it had the distinct feel of a town.
Shops lined the streets side by side. Restaurants were crowded. Rows of elegant houses stood neatly together. The wealthiest and most bustling area of Luc Yen was the main road of the commune, lined with jewelry and gemstone shops displaying large, colorful signs.
My friend, a local, said: “People here get rich from gemstones. With money, they buy land and build spacious houses. For decades, this place has become a familiar destination for seasoned gemstone traders, collectors, and tourists alike…”
At jewelry and gemstone shops, customers are always warmly welcomed and carefully and meticulously introduced to each valuable stone, from rubies and sapphires to more common types like quartz. One shop owner explained that Luc Yen has long been known as the "gemstone capital" of Vietnam because the region is blessed with abundant gemstone resources, including many famous types such as rubies, sapphires, and spinel.
According to numerous records, this area lies on an ancient metamorphic belt, where temperature and pressure conditions millions of years ago created valuable rocks. Since ancient times, local people have discovered brightly colored stones while farming, digging, or sifting sand along streams.
However, mining at that time was spontaneous, small-scale, and mainly served local trade. It wasn't until the end of the 20th century, especially in the 1980s and 1990s, when geologists conducted surveys and confirmed large reserves of gemstones, that Luc Yen truly "awakened."
Numerous quarries were discovered, attracting miners and traders from all over. Here, it's not uncommon to hear stories of farmers whose lives changed dramatically when, while working in the forest or on their fields, they accidentally found stones worth hundreds of millions, or even billions of dong.
Notably, in Luc Yen, a ruby named "Emperor's Star" was once discovered, weighing 15.75 carats (approximately 3.15 grams) with six brilliant star-like points, valued at around 5 million USD, and considered one of the most valuable gems in the world ! The most famous feature of Luc Yen is the gemstone market located in the center of the commune. The market covers only a few hundred square meters, without any covered structures or kiosks; each stall is simply a small wooden table displaying hundreds, even thousands, of gemstones of various sizes.
The market originated nearly 40 years ago when locals unearthed precious stones and brought them to trade. Sellers sit close together, forming neat rows and lines. Each table displays precious stones worth billions of dong. Despite the large crowds, the atmosphere is calm and peaceful, with no aggressive sales tactics. The most popular stones sold at the market are famous local varieties such as red rubies, blue sapphires, and spinel.
Many stones are cut, polished, and brilliantly polished, while others are in their raw, freshly mined form, with rough surfaces and indistinct colors. Some stalls also sell jewelry made from stones such as rings, pendants, bracelets, and gemstone paintings… Prices here vary widely. Some stones cost only a few hundred thousand dong, while others, no bigger than a fingertip, can be worth billions of dong.
At the market, many connoisseurs and experts use specialized lights to professionally identify the type and quality of stones. Mr. Ulriksen, a gemstone expert from Norway, said that initially, he only intended to come here to research and collect. Then, he was "enchanted" by the stones in Luc Yen and has lived in this area for more than 10 years.
Day after day, as soon as the market opens, he brings out his "tools" like magnifying glasses and flashlights, weaving around the small tables to search for the perfect stones. He has become a part of this gemstone market, knowing the faces and names of each seller, understanding how they look at stones, how they price them, and even the stories behind each stone.
Xuan Huynh, a fairly well-known YouTuber in Luc Yen, shared that since the explosion of social media, many stall owners have started to utilize technology to sell their goods. They sell at their stalls during the day and organize livestream sessions in the evenings.
Many channels have also been created with quite diverse and unique content. Beyond simply showcasing each stone, examining it under lights, and rotating it from various angles so customers can clearly see its color and clarity, many people have learned to "tell" interesting stories surrounding each stone. These stories are about journeys scouring the remote mountain ranges of Luc Yen to find and buy valuable stones, or about "collecting" stones, or buying rough stones to try their luck at breaking them apart, hoping to find a valuable gemstone.
Huynh added that although there are online sales channels, they are often used more to promote Luc Yen than to sell products. The market is always bustling, and buying and selling there remains irreplaceable because when choosing high-value items like these, most people prefer to come in person to touch, feel, and admire the products.
As midday approached, the gemstone market gradually thinned out. This was also the time when stall owners began packing up their goods and leaving. All the gemstones were put into plastic bags and small boxes. A stall worth billions of dong was neatly packed into these bags. From opening to closing, all within a single morning, the Luc Yen gemstone market, with its many interesting aspects, has become a unique market in Vietnam and a distinctive local cultural feature.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/ve-thu-phu-da-quy-luc-yen-post951437.html
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