Unique rural markets in the Mekong Delta

Many localities in Dong Thap province have formed and developed rural market models, attracting a large number of people and tourists from near and far to visit, shop, enjoy traditional and rustic dishes and exchange traditional music, contributing to attracting tourists, developing the economy, increasing income for people and promoting the local image.

Every Saturday afternoon, from the pier at the 1954 Rally Monument (Ward 6, Cao Lanh City), visitors can experience traveling by boat across the Tien River to Tan Thuan Dong rural market, Tan Thuan Dong island commune, Cao Lanh City. Most of the vendors here are local people, the shops are simple small huts with thatched roofs and bamboo walls. The items for sale are all handmade or grown by the locals. Many tourists believe that Tan Thuan Dong rural market is a "food paradise" because it has many rustic, delicious dishes, typical of the Mekong Delta such as grilled snakehead fish, grilled shrimp, grilled mice, grilled bananas, fish noodles, lotus milk, ginseng water... Mr. Le Dang Khoa (Vietnamese American) shared that he only returns to Vietnam occasionally, he is very impressed when coming to Tan Thuan Dong rural market because of the airy space, seeing familiar images in the countryside, immense rivers, fruit-laden gardens, especially enjoying many delicious dishes. Tan Thuan Dong rural market sells many traditional cakes associated with the childhood memories of many people such as: banh xeo, banh khot, banh bo, banh duc... The first time coming to Tan Thuan Dong rural market, Ms. Ngo Hong Trang (61 years old) in Cho Moi district, An Giang province confided that when she was young, her mother often took her to the rural market. Later, life became more and more modern, she no longer saw the rural market scene like in the past. She really enjoys going to Tan Thuan Dong rural market because the vendors are friendly and hospitable and the food and drinks are plentiful. Along with rustic dishes, at the rural market, local people participate in selling "homegrown" products at reasonable prices. Ms. Dang Thi Kieu Huong in Tan Thuan Dong commune said that she was very excited when the local government organized a rural market, reminding her of her childhood memories. Ms. Huong took the opportunity to harvest some fruits that her family was growing (oranges, coconuts, mangoes...) to sell at the market, helping her have an additional source of income after each market session of more than 300,000 VND.

Tourists enjoy country dishes at Tan Thuan Dong Countryside Market (Dong Thap).

Tan Thuan Dong rural market opened its first session in December 2022 with 24 households participating in displaying and trading local specialties. To date, the number of households participating in business here has reached more than 60. Vice Chairman of Tan Thuan Dong Commune People's Committee Phan Hoang Huy said that the rural market operates from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. every Saturday, with 2,000 or more visitors each session. To date, Tan Thuan Dong rural market has attracted more than 105,000 visitors from inside and outside the province and foreign visitors to visit and eat, with revenue of billions of VND. In Thap Muoi district, Go Thap rural market (Tan Kieu commune) has its own unique features when it is organized in the form of an ancient rural market associated with a lotus space at the Go Thap National Special Monument. The stalls are decorated in the style of a traditional Southern market with thatched roofs, stalls made of bamboo, wood and decorated with simple, rustic materials available locally. Here, visitors can enjoy many delicious traditional dishes. According to the Go Thap Relic Site Management Board, the unit has coordinated with the People's Committee of Thap Muoi district to organize the implementation of the rural market model. Each month, the market operates once on the last Saturday of the month. During Tet and festivals, the rural market will operate for a longer period. Go Thap rural market serves visitors to visit, take photos, eat and drink, and combine cultural and artistic exchanges, and traditional music. Up to now, after 8 sessions, Go Thap rural market has attracted more than 101,000 visitors.

Tourists come to Go Thap Countryside Market in Tan Kieu Commune (Thap Muoi, Dong Thap).

Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dong Thap province Huynh Thi Hoai Thu said that the Department has coordinated and supported the model of Tan Thuan Dong rural market and Go Thap rural market to bring about efficiency. Rural market is a tourism model that aims to recreate the space of the old rural market, attract domestic and foreign tourists; help consume products, especially local agricultural products, increase income for people and contribute to promoting the local image. From the model of Tan Thuan Dong rural market, Go Thap rural market, up to now, a number of other localities in Dong Thap province have implemented the rural market model such as: Long Thuan rural market (Long Thuan commune, Hong Ngu district), Dinh Yen rural market (Dinh Yen commune, Lap Vo district) ... In the process of organizing the rural market, local authorities focus on ensuring food hygiene and safety, security and order, and fire prevention and fighting ... Long Thuan rural market is jointly organized by the People's Committee of the commune and the Long Thuan Safe Vegetable Production and Consumption Cooperative. According to Mr. Duong Minh Sang, Director of the Long Thuan Safe Vegetable Production and Consumption Cooperative, the rural market aims to recreate the old scene with almost all the “homegrown” dishes, especially traditional, rural dishes. Although it is a rural market, the Market Management Board is interested in promoting and mobilizing food vendors to ensure food hygiene and safety; organizing waste collection, and maintaining environmental sanitation.

Delicious, rustic dishes are sold at rural markets in Dong Thap.

For a long time, the image of the countryside market has been very familiar to the daily life of many rural people in the Mekong Delta. Along with the development of society, today, the intimate countryside markets are becoming less and less. Dong Thap is one of the localities in the Mekong Delta that has the model of a countryside market early. The markets take place regularly every week or every month. This not only helps preserve ancient cultural values, but is also a form of community tourism that brings many interesting and new things; initially effective, attracting many tourists from near and far.

Article and photos: Nhat An (Vietnam News Agency)