Warm border market

(Baonghean.vn) -Although I have been to the border market (Laos-Vietnam Friendship Market) several times, every time I go to Ky Son during the market (14th-15th and 29th-30th of every month), I join the crowd of people flocking to Nam Can Border Gate to witness with my own eyes the bustling, joyful atmosphere and the warm friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

The previous times, I went to the border market in winter and spring, that is, before and after Tet. This time, I decided to go in summer with the hope of discovering new things. The National Highway 7A section from Muong Xen Town to Nam Can Border Gate (about 20 km) is usually quiet and deserted, but today it is unusually crowded. Cars, motorbikes and pedestrians follow each other, seemingly stretching to infinity. The winding road, winding between the mountains and the clouds, adds to the poetic and magical beauty, making visitors from far away feel more emotional about the beauty of the landscape and mountains of Nghe An border. Muong Xen Town is so hot, but after going up about 10 km, to Noong De village, reaching Nam Can land, travelers begin to feel the cool, pleasant air. The higher up you go, the greater the temperature difference, so the air is cooler. Through the villages of Truong Son and Tien Tieu, you can see that every house has its doors and windows locked, because the Mong people have gotten up early in the morning to go to the market, when the roosters start crowing to call for sunlight. Not only the people of Nam Can, but almost all the people in the villages of Ta Ca, Pha Danh, Huoi Tu, Tay Son, Huu Kiem, Huu Lap, Chieu Luu, Na Ngoi, Nam Can and Muong Xen Town all look forward to the market to buy and sell.

Bustling border market

Arriving at Nam Can International Border Gate, everyone stopped to complete immigration procedures and then continued on a journey of nearly 1 km to the border market. The border market is located halfway up the mountain range bordering the border, in Dinh Dam village, Noong Het district, Xieng Khouang province (Lao PDR). When we arrived, the market was bustling with buyers and sellers. Transactions can be exchanged in both languages ​​and currencies (Lao, Vietnamese). Walking around the market, it is easy to see that the typical product of this country in this season is peaches. I don't know if it is suitable for the soil and climate conditions, but the peaches sold at the border market look plump and delicious. When enjoying them with your mouth, you can easily feel the sweetness and freshness. At the border market, many Vietnamese people look to buy agricultural tools (knives, hoes, shovels...), and household items made from plastic (buckets, basins). As for Laotians, most of them go to stalls selling seafood and fruits shipped from Vietnam.

The highlight that creates the attractiveness of the border market is the sight of Lao girls in colorful dresses. Lao people, especially young men and women, love to sing. The proof is that the music stalls are always packed with people. Here, songs with sweet and lively melodies always resound.

Having been to the border market several times, I know that if I haven’t visited the food stall, I’ve only gone halfway. Around noon, Vi Thi Lan, a Thai girl from Hoa Son village, Ta Ca commune, my travel companion and interpreter, and I went to the food stall. When I was in Muong Xen, I was afraid that enjoying grilled chicken and pork in the summer might not be very appealing. But when we arrived, I realized that the weather here is cool and pleasant, so the food stalls are always crowded with Vietnamese diners. We went to the restaurant of Mrs. Me Nang, a Lao woman. It seemed that she recognized that I had been there a few times, so she smiled warmly and said, “It’s been a long time!”. I was absorbed in enjoying the fragrant aroma of sticky rice and the fatty grilled chicken. My travel companion ate and chatted with Me Nang. Before leaving for the border market, Lan told me that she could speak and understand about 70% of Lao. I asked Lan what she was talking about with Me Nang, she explained: “Me Nang said that every month she really looks forward to the market day, partly to sell her goods. At the same time, to meet and visit relatives in both Noong Het and Ky Son. She is very happy at every market day…”.

The sun was already high overhead, it was time for buyers and sellers to say goodbye and make plans to meet again at the next market. Joy was evident on every face…

Cong Kien