Border market

(Baonghean.vn) -People still call the market taking place on Truong Son mountain range between Ky Son district (Nghe An) and Noong Het district (Xieng Khouang, Laos) a friendship and solidarity market; because for a long time now, the market has not only been a place for trading but also a place for gathering, reminiscing about old times and new things between old Lao and Vietnamese friends and a place for strangers to make friends.

This border market was established many years ago, usually taking place in an open space in Nam Can commune. In 2003, when Nam Can border gate was upgraded to an international border gate, this market was moved to the neighboring country according to the agreement of the two twinned provinces of Nghe An - Xieng Khouang. The current market location is only about 1 km from the border gate area. Security at the market is always very good - sellers and buyers always have smiles on their faces...

According to regulations, the market is held on 3 days each month, which are the 14th, 18th and 29th of the solar calendar, but in reality it only takes place on 2 days, the 14th and 29th. The market usually starts at 7am (when the border gate clears customs) and ends at 2pm. Goods sold at the market include household items, farming tools, poultry, brocade, clothes, candy, fruits, food, drinks, medicine, etc. or typical products of both countries. At the market, Lao Kip and Vietnamese Dong can be used to buy goods. The stall owners can speak many different languages ​​such as Vietnamese, Mong, Thai, Kho Mu, Lao.

The most popular specialties of this border market are Laotian dishes: grilled chicken, fish and sticky rice... At each market, many people from both countries come here even though they do not need to buy or sell consumer goods. They come just to enjoy the dishes sold and prepared right at the market, a little corn wine or a bottle of Lao beer. This border market has become a unique cultural feature here.../.

Bustling Nam Can border market



Handwoven products of a Lao couple sold at the border market



Choose to buy some gifts for the children



Mr. Gia Giong Ly, Tien Tieu village (Nam Can commune) went to the border market to buy a knife to go to the fields.



A fruit stall from Laos is present at the market.



Typical Lao buses patiently wait for customers to leave the market



Stalls selling grilled chicken, grilled pork and fragrant grilled fish - typical Lao cuisine - always attract diners.



Mother and child go to market together



The two of them went to the border market to buy sea fish - a rare dish for Lao people.



Charm of the mountainous market



Lao Mong chickens are being sold in a corner of the market.



The road to Nam Can border gate on the Vietnamese side after a busy border market day

Tran Hai - Thanh Chung