Ha Long market covers about 15,000 square meters, its entrance hall adorned with red flags featuring a yellow star, and hundreds of tubs of fresh seafood neatly line the tiled aisles.

A crab vendor stated that the seafood is sourced from fishing boats at sea or aquaculture farms in Quang Ninh, ensuring its freshness and variety.

Tourists can bargain before purchasing items for cooking or as gifts.

Mackerel is a popular seafood item at the fresh fish stalls. Most seafood in the market is live, kept in tubs with oxygenation. Cu ky (a type of sea crab with large, meaty claws) costs from 90,000 dong to 200,000 dong per kg, depending on size. Sea crabs are priced at about 600,000 dong per kg, and blue crabs at 400,000 dong per kg. Geoduck clams attract many curious tourists who stop to inquire and buy. This seafood item costs from 350,000 dong per kg to 600,000 dong per kg.

Ha Long market vendors are ready to prepare seafood for tourists after a transaction has been agreed upon. Many visitors to Quang Ninh often come to the market to buy ingredients to cook at homestays or on the beach.

Outside the market gate, a row of stalls sells various dried seafood and snacks like fried anchovies, spicy shredded dried squid, and shrimp floss.

The Ha Long seafood market, a vibrant hub in Quang Ninh, offers visitors a unique culinary experience, from selecting fresh catches to savoring local delicacies. Covering about 15,000 square meters, the market's entrance is decorated with red flags featuring a yellow star, leading to hundreds of tubs filled with live seafood that neatly line the tiled aisles.

Vendors confirm that the market's diverse and fresh seafood selection is sourced directly from local fishing boats and aquaculture farms across Quang Ninh. Tourists are encouraged to bargain for prices before deciding to purchase items, whether for immediate cooking or as gifts. The market provides a convenient service where vendors prepare the seafood for customers, a popular option for those staying in homestays or planning beachside meals.

Among the array of fresh seafood, mackerel is a common sight at fish stalls. Most of the market's offerings are live, kept in oxygenated tubs. Specific prices for popular items include: cu ky (a type of sea crab with large, meaty claws) ranging from 90,000 dong to 200,000 dong per kg based on size; sea crabs at approximately 600,000 dong per kg; and blue crabs at 400,000 dong per kg. Geoduck clams also draw considerable attention, with prices varying from 350,000 dong to 600,000 dong per kg.

Beyond the fresh catches, the market's outer perimeter hosts stalls selling various dried seafood and local snacks. These include fried anchovies, spicy shredded dried squid, and shrimp floss. However, the most frequented stalls are those specializing in cha muc, or squid cakes.

Cha muc is a signature local dish, often prepared using traditional methods. Instead of industrial grinders, skilled artisans hand-pound cuttlefish until it achieves a smooth, sticky consistency. This labor-intensive process is key to creating the distinctive flavor that makes this specialty dish so beloved.

Like many local markets, Ha Long market also features stalls selling fresh vegetables and fruits. The market experiences its busiest periods from 7 to 10 h and 15 to 17 h, with weekends being particularly crowded.

Recently, the market gained further recognition when it served as a filming location for the "Sao Chon" program, featuring guests Den Vau, Tuan Cry, and Phi Kinh. This reality show is part of Vietnam iContent 2026, a collaborative effort by the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, VnExpress Newspaper, FPT Online Joint Stock Company (FPT Online), and the Vietnam Association of Vocational Training and Employment for Chefs (VICA). The Techcombank OneU loyalty program is a strategic partner, and T Production is the production unit.

Le Tan