Simple countryside market on Tet holiday in Nghe An
(Baonghean.vn) - In the days leading up to Lunar New Year, rural markets in some mountainous districts are bustling with buyers and sellers. Most of the products in rural markets are mainly made by farmers themselves, so they are very close and familiar.
During Tet, the countryside market in Anh Son becomes busier, more crowded and the goods are more diverse than usual. From sticky rice, dong leaves, pickled onions... to bunches of bananas, bunches of areca nuts... everything is available at the countryside market.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Kinh, a long-time vendor at Dua market, Tuong Son commune, shared: In contrast to the market on normal days, which only has a few stalls of goods for sale in the market hall, the Tet market is packed. Whoever has products to sell just brings them out. No one fights for a place, the next person follows the previous person and sits in a long line. This year, due to market fluctuations, all goods have increased in price during Tet. Currently, the price of a bunch of royal bananas is from 40,000 to 60,000 VND/bunch depending on the type; pickled onions are 50,000 VND/kg; dong leaves are 50,000 VND/100 leaves...
 |
| The Tet countryside market still has simple products, close to everyone. Photo: Thai Hien |
The difference in the rural market is that most of the products are made by the people and then brought to sell, increasing their income. The shoulder poles, sometimes just a few kohlrabi, a few bunches of aromatic herbs or bunches of green bananas, areca nuts, grapefruits... are all brought to the market by the farmers, both fresh and delicious, making consumers feel very secure and comfortable.
One of the most popular items during Tet is green vegetables. Ms. Tran Thi Ha in village 6, Thach Son commune, has 2 sao of vegetables ready for harvest this Tet holiday. She mainly grows vegetables that are popular with consumers during Tet such as: cauliflower, cabbage, green beans, lettuce.
This year, the weather is not very favorable so farmers do not have a good vegetable crop, but in the days before Tet, the prices have increased, chrysanthemums usually cost 3,000 VND/bunch, now increased to 5,000 VND/bunch, cabbage usually costs 4,000 - 5,000 VND/head, now increased to 10,000 VND/head, cauliflower costs 15,000 VND/head, mustard greens cost 5,000 VND/bunch. Root vegetables and fruits such as kohlrabi, eggplant, cucumber, tomato have also increased by 20 - 30% compared to 1-2 weeks ago.
 |
| Parallel sentences, Tet calendars, red flags with yellow stars... are abundant Tet goods at the Con Cuong mountain market. Photo: Ba Hau |
In Con Cuong, bananas, grapefruits, dong leaves, fruits... are indispensable items in every rural market on Tet holiday. All are homegrown products, making people who go to the market feel the closeness, intimacy, simplicity and authenticity of the countryside. The prices are a bit higher, but most buyers understand and sympathize.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, a local market goer in Con Cuong said: "On this occasion, the market still sells items such as boiled corn, boiled potatoes, potato cakes, rice rolls... I find the market very fun, very crowded and everyone is very excited to enjoy the local gifts eagerly."
Not only everyday items, plastic flowers, red parallel sentences, Tet calendars... are items that remind of the Tet atmosphere and make market goers suddenly feel nostalgic.
Normally, rural markets only open in the morning. But during Tet, the number of people going to the market increases due to the greater shopping demand, so the market can open all day, making the Tet atmosphere in the rural markets more bustling and exciting.
 |
| Plastic flower items for Tet display, an indispensable cultural feature in the rural market on Tet holiday in Con Cuong. Photo: Ba Hau |
 |
| Homegrown vegetables are brought to the market by people to sell. |
The Tet market is not only a place to exchange and buy and sell garden products, but it is also a place for cultural exchange, to discuss and share business stories, joys and sorrows of the old year.
In the last days of the year, going to the countryside market can feel the atmosphere of Tet coming. Everyone is excited and eager to shop to prepare for the New Year. The Tet market is also an occasion to remind the young generation to look back to their roots with good traditional cultural features.
 |
| The peanut jam stall is quite busy, Photo: Ba Hau |
