A place that preserves memories and the soul of the countryside.

However, the development of supermarkets, shopping malls, and new consumer habits has caused many traditional rural markets to gradually disappear. But now, a wave of revival of these rural markets is spreading, with many different names and organizational methods in the Lotus Land region.

A stall selling traditional cakes at Tan Thuan Dong rural market (Tan Thuan Dong commune, Cao La Vinh city) (Photo: MX)

These markets bring a sense of community to the Land of Pink Lotus.

It all started with the model of the Tan Thuan Dong islet rural market. A ferry takes tourists from one side of the river to the other, an islet sometimes called a "cu lao" (island) by the locals. Also in the capital city of the Land of Pink Lotus, there is the Tan Thuan Tay night market, sparkling at night on the breezy banks of the Tien River, run by the Thuan Tan Association.

Returning to the countryside, there's the My Dong Commune Rural Market. Notably, this market is an initiative of the members of the Thang Loi Agricultural Service Cooperative. Besides growing high-quality rice, the cooperative members also wanted to create a space for buying and selling local specialties, making rural life less quiet and desolate.

Then, people from Tan Nghia went to My Dong to study, and upon returning, they built the Xom Ray Market, because the agricultural activities there are closely linked to fields and crops. Then, people from Long Thuan commune, Hong Nguy district, launched the "Rural Market - Fragrance of Rice in the Border Region," associated with the image of vast rice fields.

It's impossible not to mention the durian food market in Phu Huu, Chau Thanh, which brings together products made from this "king" fruit, such as durian mooncakes, durian sweet soup, durian smoothies, and durian ice cream.

Rural markets are not just places for buying and selling, but also places for connecting people.

Rural markets are not simply places for buying and selling food, but also places for socializing, where people meet daily, sharing stories about family, harvests, and life. That's why rural markets are often associated with traditional values such as: friendly and intimate verbal communication; no rush, buyers and sellers exchange not only goods but also feelings and stories; and regular market sessions – a characteristic community activity of the countryside.

Sustainable rural market trends

That is, the eco-market model ensures both economic development and environmental protection. Here, people use natural materials such as bamboo, reeds, and coconut leaves to build stalls. Plastic bags are restricted and replaced with banana leaves, lotus leaves, taro leaves, and environmentally friendly paper bags. The market focuses on local products, prioritizing organic products and clean agricultural produce, and is linked to the names of the producers.

That is, the "Rural Market Combined with Tourism" model. Here, cultural and culinary events are organized right in the market space to attract visitors. Social media is utilized to promote the traditional market. Locals who are unable to sell their goods directly are supported through online markets.

That is, to support farmers in acquiring business skills to become small traders. Training includes presenting products attractively, maintaining hygiene, and ensuring quality. It also involves helping farmers access modern sales methods such as home delivery and digital sales platforms, while still preserving the essence of a traditional "country market."

That is, farmers and rural residents are the main actors in rural markets, the creators and organizers of the market space. Each rural market space needs to have its own unique characteristics based on what the village already has, creating higher value.

A few words of advice

Whatever you do, you need to thoroughly understand its value; the deeper your understanding, the more you appreciate new things that emerge. A rural market is not just a place for buying and selling, but also a place that preserves the soul of the countryside, the breath of the village. Each rural market is a symphony of life – the cries of vendors, the laughter, the bargaining, all blending with the rustic flavors of the countryside beside the bamboo groves and rice paddies. The rural market may be small, but it holds so much affection, a place where people exchange not just goods, but also sincerity.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, rural markets retain their rustic charm, like a tranquil note lingering in the symphony of time. There are things unique to rural markets: baskets of vegetables still fragrant with the scent of the earth, fish wriggling in a basket of water, the cakes my grandmother used to make, and unforgettable old stories. Rural markets are not noisy or hurried; they are filled with genuine people and simple yet incredibly precious things. No matter how far I travel, every time I return home, just stepping into the market fills my heart with warmth, as if I've returned to my childhood days.

Let's add a bonus point to the criteria for evaluating communes that meet the standards of new rural areas, advanced new rural areas, and model new rural areas for localities that organize rural markets. A bonus point for the creativity of farmers and rural residents. A bonus point for the grassroots political system that has independently found meaningful initiatives. A bonus point for the renewed vitality of rural communities through these rural markets.

Creating a traditional rural market space is difficult, but preserving and developing it is even more challenging. If we want our rural markets to become a brand, the Party committee, government, those working in agriculture and rural areas, industry and trade, culture and tourism, information, press and media need to consider it their own responsibility, not just a minor matter for the local people. Success is not a destination, but a journey that requires persistent daily effort.

Preserving traditional rural markets means preserving the soul of the countryside and its people!

Le Minh Hoan

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/van-hoa/noi-luu-giu-ky-uc-and-hon-que-130186.aspx