Bustling Nghe An countryside market welcomes the 15th day of the 7th lunar month

Nghe An has hundreds of rural markets with many famous, 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 of the rural markets in the province have been upgraded, renovated, and many stalls have been built. On normal days, the rural markets are already "full of goods and customers", but near the 15th of the 7th lunar month, the goods are even more abundant, with many sellers and buyers. Photo: Huy Thu

After a period of Covid-19 pandemic, the rural market in Nghe An welcoming the 15th of July this year seems to be more joyful and crowded. From the 12th of the 7th lunar month, the atmosphere of the rural market has begun to bustle. Goods are sold right out to the market gate, even on the roads leading to the market. Photo: Huy Thu

The highlight of the countryside market on the occasion of the Full Moon is the abundance of fruits, especially bananas. Every countryside market is full of bananas, all kinds of ripe bananas, green bananas are brought to the market by people to sell. Photo: Huy Thu

Normally, bananas in the countryside market are quite cheap, but on the full moon day, the price of bananas skyrockets 5-7 times. A bunch of royal bananas, "pleasing to the eye" bananas, the lowest price is also30,000 - 40,000copper. In the photo: Banana buying and selling scene at Con market, Thanh Duong commune (Thanh Chuong). Photo: Huy Thu

At the countryside market on the full moon day, all kinds of beautiful areca nuts and fresh betel leaves are brought in from all over the countryside. At the full moon market, betel and areca nuts are in high demand, because they are indispensable items in the full moon worship ceremony. This year, areca nuts are quite expensive, each fruit, depending on its beauty, costs from 3,000 to 5,000 VND. Photo: Huy Thu

Rural markets in the mountainous and midland areas of Nghe An often have sweet soup stalls. Near the full moon festival, people bring more sweet soup to the market to sell. From early morning, many people go to the market to buy fresh sweet soup bundles to stew for the full moon festival. Photo: Huy Thu

The countryside is changing, rural life is getting more and more prosperous, the way people organize the Full Moon worship and eat Full Moon has more or less changed to better suit life. The most noticeable thing is that delicious, clean, and unique food is prioritized. Fruit offerings seem to be more focused on with the spirit of "a ceremony that pleases the heart". Photo: Huy Thu

People who go to the Full Moon market often buy votive paper - an important and indispensable offering on the family altar. Currently, votive paper products are designed in a rich and diverse range of designs, styles, and colors with the spirit of "the underworld is like the earthly world". Photo: Huy Thu

In recent years, the rural markets welcoming the Full Moon Festival in July also have some vendors selling bamboo for families to buy to wrap cakes for the Full Moon Festival. In the context of the Covid-19 epidemic that is at risk of re-emerging, many people going to the market to welcome the Full Moon Festival without wearing masks pose a potential risk of spreading the disease in the community. Photo: Huy Thu

The full moon of July has entered the consciousness of Nghe people as one of the important holidays of the year. Along with the changes in the socio-economy, the atmosphere of welcoming the full moon seems to be spreading more and more throughout the countryside, most clearly expressed in the countryside market. Going to the countryside market to welcome the full moon is not only to shop and experience, but also to exchange, chat, and enjoy the atmosphere of preparing to welcome the full moon of July, eager and cozy of the homeland. Photo: Huy Thu