Tourists and locals flock to Dong Van Old Quarter's bustling weekend market

Every sunday morning, thousands of tourists and locals crowd the narrow streets of Dong Van Old Quarter for its vibrant weekly market.

Every sunday, nearby locals and tourists flock to Dong Van Old Quarter to enjoy the market. Along the long, narrow street opposite the square, stalls are set up in the middle of the road, with visitors bustling on both sides.

Compared to Meo Vac market, Dong Van market attracts more tourists due to its central location in the old quarter. Local residents, wearing traditional highland attire and carrying back baskets, come to shop and sell goods.

According to a representative from the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, the market is not just a place for trade but has become a cultural exchange hub that tourists must experience.

At many stalls, vendors primarily speak Hmong, which can limit communication with customers.

Popular items include food, especially sausages, medicinal herbs, and farming tools. In addition to paying cash, locals also use household goods for bartering.

About 400 meters deeper into the market is the livestock section, primarily selling cattle and chickens.

According to locals, Hmong men previously often drank heavily at the market, to the point where their wives had to wait for them to sober up before taking them home. This phenomenon has decreased due to increased awareness of women's rights.

The food court attracts the most tourists, despite not having a wide variety of goods. It mainly offers pho, thang co, men men, and snacks like lap xuong and sweet grilled sausages.

Minh Hoang, wearing a black shirt, from Hai Phong, stated that while the food wasn't to his taste, the market experience was "one of a kind". He was impressed by the dining area's "communal kitchen" atmosphere at the Dong Van market. "The light, the hazy smoke from the broth pots, and everyone gathering to eat breakfast felt like a big family feast," he said.

Pork is displayed on a platter; customers choose their desired portion, and the vendor cuts it for them.

A stall sells fried buckwheat flower cakes at the market. The cakes are made from buckwheat flower seeds. After the flowering season, locals harvest and dry the seeds, then grind them into fine flour to make these cakes.