Bustling atmosphere at the rural market in Nghe An province on the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year).
Annam•January 26, 2025 12:30
As Tet approaches across the countryside, everyone wants to shop and prepare for a prosperous Tet celebration for their families. Therefore, in the days leading up to Tet, the rural markets in Nghe An become more lively and bustling than ever.
Rural markets – the place that best reflects the atmosphere of Tet preparations in the countryside. From the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, rural markets are bustling with vendors and customers, and the closer it gets to Tet, the more crowded they become. In the photo: A corner of Con Market in Xuan Duong commune (Thanh Chuong district) on the eve of Tet. Photo: Huy ThuRural markets during Tet (Lunar New Year) offer a wide variety of traditional Tet items such as banana leaves and bamboo. This year, banana leaves are readily available as they are brought in from mountainous districts. In addition, there are banana leaves grown by locals in their home gardens. (Photo: Huy Thu) A woman selling banana leaves for wrapping cakes at Con Market (Thanh Chuong district) said that from the 22nd to the 25th of the 12th lunar month, good quality banana leaves sold for 3,500 - 4,000 VND/leaf, but now they only cost 1,000 - 2,000 VND/leaf. Photo: Huy ThuShoppers choose the most beautiful and satisfactory banana leaves. Photo: Huy ThuLike banana leaves, bamboo stalks are brought from the forest quite early. Around the 20th of the 12th lunar month, bamboo used for wrapping cakes is sold in markets everywhere. Shoppers usually choose long, medium-sized bamboo tubes. Each tube of bamboo typically costs around 10,000 dong. Photo: Huy ThuMany people who don't want to split the bamboo themselves buy pre-split bamboo strips at the market. The vendors have already bundled the bamboo strips together, making it quite convenient for tying cakes. (Photo: Huy Thư)Locally grown agricultural products such as green tea, green bananas, betel nuts, and tangerine leaves are sold at Cau Market in Kim Lien commune (Nam Dan district). Photo: Huy Thu The bamboo and rattan hanging racks used to hang pots and food, once thought to be just a memory, still appear in rural markets during Tet (Lunar New Year), evoking many cherished recollections. Photo: Huy Thu During this time, many children are taken to the Tet market by their parents to buy new clothes. A father who took his daughter to the local market to buy clothes said: "Children still love to wear new clothes during Tet, so I took her to the market to buy some new clothes to make her happy." (Photo: Huy Thu)Parents choose red ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dresses) for their children to wear during Tet (Lunar New Year). A young child happily tries on an ao dai at Con Market in Xuan Duong commune (Thanh Chuong district). Photo: Huy ThuThe bustling atmosphere of the rural markets during Tet (Lunar New Year) reflects the joyful preparations for the festivities and the welcoming of spring by the people of Nghe An province. On the morning of the 27th day of the lunar month, the monsoon winds swept in, bringing light rain, but this did not deter people from going to the Tet market. Photo: Huy Thu The atmosphere of a rural market during Tet (Vietnamese New Year). Video: Huy Thu
