Bustling rural markets in Nghe An province welcome the full moon of the seventh lunar month.

Nghe An province has hundreds of rural markets, including many famous and long-standing ancient markets such as Son Market, Dinh Market, Quan Market (Nghi Loc); Phu Market, Xuan Nho Market, Sy Nam Market (Dien Chau); Mo Market, Leu Market, Noi Market, Hom Market (Quynh Luu); Luong Market, Bai Market, Thuong Market (Do Luong); Con Market, Dung Market, Ro Market, Chua Market, Giang Market, Phuong Market (Thanh Chuong); Cau Market, Ro Market, Rong Market (Nam Dan); My Market, Lieu Market (Hung Nguyen); Dinh Market, Si Market, Roc Market, Bong Market, Gam Market (Yen Thanh).Currently, most rural markets in the province have been upgraded and renovated, with many stalls and shops being built. On ordinary days, these markets are already bustling with goods and customers, but as the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, the variety of goods increases, with many sellers and buyers. (Photo: Huy Thu)

After a period of relative calm following the Covid-19 pandemic, the rural markets in Nghe An province seem even more lively and crowded this year as they celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival (the 15th day of the 7th lunar month). From the 12th day of the 7th lunar month, the atmosphere in the rural markets has become bustling. Goods are sold right outside the market gates and even along the roads leading to and from the market. (Photo: Huy Thu)

A striking feature of rural markets during the full moon festival is the abundance of fruits, especially bananas. Every rural market is full of bananas, both ripe and green, brought by locals to sell. Photo: Huy Thu

On ordinary days, bananas at the local market are quite cheap, but on the full moon day, the price of bananas skyrockets 5-7 times. A bunch of "perfect" royal or royal bananas, even the cheapest ones, still cost at least...30,000 - 40,000copper. In the photo: A scene of banana trading at Con Market in Thanh Duong commune (Thanh Chuong district). Photo: Huy Thu

At the rural market during the full moon festival, beautiful betel nuts and fresh betel leaves are brought in from all over the countryside. The betel nut and betel leaf stalls are in high demand at the full moon market, as these are indispensable items in the full moon ceremony. This year, betel nuts are quite expensive, each costing between 3000 and 5000 dong depending on its quality. Photo: Huy Thu

Rural markets in the mountainous and midland regions of Nghe An province often have tea stalls. Around the full moon festival, more tea is brought to the market by locals. From early morning, many people go to the market and stop by the tea stalls to buy bundles of fresh tea leaves to brew as offerings for the festival. (Photo: Huy Thu)

With rural modernization and increasingly prosperous living conditions, the way people celebrate and eat during the full moon festival has changed to better suit their lives. The most noticeable change is the preference for delicious, clean, and unique food. Fruit offerings seem to receive more attention, reflecting the spirit of "a beautiful ceremony with a sincere heart." (Photo: Huy Thư)

People going to the Mid-Autumn Festival market often buy votive paper offerings – an important and indispensable offering on the ancestral altar. Nowadays, votive paper offerings are designed in a rich variety of styles, shapes, and colors, reflecting the spirit of "what is in the earthly world is what is in the afterlife." Photo: Huy Thu

In recent years, rural markets celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival (the 15th day of the 7th lunar month) have also featured vendors selling bamboo for families to buy and use in making offerings for the festival. With the risk of a resurgence of Covid-19, many people attending the market without masks pose a potential risk of spreading the disease in the community. (Photo: Huy Thư)

The full moon of the seventh lunar month has become ingrained in the consciousness of the people of Nghe An as one of the most important holidays of the year. Along with socio-economic changes, the atmosphere of celebrating the full moon seems to spread more and more throughout the countryside, most clearly manifested in rural markets. Going to the rural market to celebrate the full moon is not only for shopping and experiencing, but also for socializing, chatting, and sharing in the eager and warm atmosphere of preparing for the full moon of the seventh lunar month in the countryside. Photo: Huy Thu