Regularly from after 12 pm until the sun sets behind the Na San mountain range, Na Sy market in Na Sy village, Mai Son commune is bustling with buyers and sellers.
Not noisy and modern, this market along the national highway has a rustic and rustic touch, but it attracts curiosity with stalls selling all kinds of insects and "strange" products.
Along the market path, simple trays of goods are full of grasshoppers, crickets, bedbugs, bee pupae, ant eggs...
Besides, there are forest vegetables such as khai beef vegetable, thối vegetable, bitter bamboo shoots, forest eggplant, núc nác fruit and many ready-made dishes such as pa pỉnh tộp, cơm lam, pịa dê, thắng cố.
All create a unique culinary space, imbued with the mountains and forests of the Northwest.
The attraction of Na Sy market does not stop at the domestic market. Many international tourist groups also come to explore.
Mr. William Bill (USA) said: "The market is very simple, imbued with the highlands, the insects here are very strange, I have never seen them before. The whole group was very excited and asked the tour guide to learn more about local culture.
Ms. Luong Thi Thuy Hanh, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: "This is the first time I have witnessed many types of insects such as milky ticks, silkworm pupae, bedbugs or ant eggs. In Hanoi, there are very few places that sell and process these dishes. Coming here and seeing the bustling trading scene, I was both curious and excited.
Na Sy market went into operation in 2013. Initially, it was just a small-scale people's market, serving the needs of goods exchange of people in the area.
Over time, the market has been planned and expanded, becoming a vibrant trading point, attracting both local people and tourists.
The busiest market is around 3-16 pm, the small traders are mainly Thai ethnic people, bringing to the market "home-grown" products.
Vegetables harvested in the fields, fish and shrimp caught from ponds, lakes, rivers or dishes prepared by hand, so the goods at the market change seasonally, always fresh and imbued with natural flavors.
Ms. Lo Thi Tom, Na Sy village, said: "I have been selling here for more than 10 years, mainly bringing insects, wild vegetables, and homemade goods to the market. Every day there are customers supporting me, helping my family have an additional stable income.
Ms. Quang Thi Kim, village 7, Chieng Mung commune, shared: "I usually go to the market from early afternoon, cook ready-made dishes such as soup, meat, beef offal to sell, and also sell silkworm pupae and bee pupae. Every day there are many customers, sometimes selling out early, the income is also better.
Not only sellers, buyers are also very diverse, some people from the central wards of Son La cross dozens of kilometers to the market, some are tourists from provinces and cities coming to experience local culture.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Thu - Vice Chairman of Mai Son Commune People's Committee - said that in 2021, the local government upgraded and expanded the market to meet the increasing trade needs.
At the same time, the commune regularly arranges forces to ensure security and order, traffic diversion, and arranging parking lots. In the coming time, the market will continue to be studied for expansion to meet the increasing trade of the people.
Not only is it a place to trade, Na Sy market also contributes to promoting local agricultural products and specialties to tourists. Rustic products, affordable prices and the sincerity and hospitality of the highland people have created a unique and unmistakable feature.
For many tourists, visiting Na Sy market is not only for shopping but also a journey to experience culture and explore unique insects. Amidst the modern pace of life, the small market along National Highway 6 still retains its simplicity, becoming an interesting stop on the journey to explore Son La.
