Tan Thanh market is bustling again in the days leading up to Tet
In the days leading up to Tet, when the early morning mist still lingers around the limestone mountains of the border region, Tan Thanh market has woken up earlier than usual.
The flow of people flocking in gradually increased every hour. Low kiosks, old corrugated iron roofs simultaneously opened, pulling along the familiar sound of iron doors pulling up, of hastily torn tape, of calling out to each other between small traders who have been attached to this market for many years.
The market space quickly became cramped. The narrow walkway was encroached upon by goods spilling out to the edge of the stall.
Float jackets, woolen jackets, fur jackets hanging tightly from the ceiling down to the head, forming dense "cloth walls".
Going deep into the central area, the market rhythm is much faster. Buyers and sellers avoid each other in every step. The bargaining sounds take place quickly, almost no longer with persistent bargaining.
Sellers quote prices, buyers nod or shake their heads very quickly and then continue to move to another stall.
According to PV's records, after the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in border trade activities, Tan Thanh market once had a long period of desolation, with many kiosks closed.
The strong development of online trading also makes the traditional border market model no longer retain its advantages as before.
However, the last few weeks of the year are still the time when the market "re-beats".
Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha, a small trader with more than 20 years of attachment to the market, while stacking her jackets, slowly recounted: "In the peak period before, trading was from morning to midnight without rest. After the epidemic, the market was very deserted. These days leading up to Tet, it's already crowded again, although not as crowded as before.
According to Ms. Ha, for many small traders, the last few weeks of the year are the time to recover after a year of slow business. Many people accept slim profits, only hoping to rotate capital and have a full Tet.
In the area selling blankets and mattresses, goods are stretched in rows. Fur blankets and thick blankets in transparent nylon bags are stacked high across the chest.
Not far away, the dry food area brings a very unique flavor of red apples, sesame seeds, dried mushrooms, cinnamon, oysters... packed tightly on iron shelves. Chinese labels mixed with Vietnamese create a very "traditional" feeling.
Ms. A Le, a Chinese small trader who has been trading at Tan Thanh market for many years, both weighed the kilograms and said in a voice mixed with Vietnamese: "Because Tet is coming, customers are much more crowded. Mainly regular customers, they know what to buy, ask quickly, buy quickly. These days selling is more difficult but happy, because there is a Tet atmosphere.
Customers coming to the market are mostly people who are familiar with the route, familiar with the goods. They point to the right type to buy, the seller with his hand on the high shelf, weighing quickly, packing neatly. The exchanges take place briefly, with little hesitation.
Mr. Tran Van Minh, a tourist from Hanoi, said that this is the third time he has returned to Tan Thanh market at the end of the year: "The atmosphere near Tet here is very different. The market is not modern, but it has a very bustling atmosphere typical of the border region. I often buy warm clothes and dried food as gifts, which is both convenient and feels like Tet comes early.
Border market before the wave of e-commerce
Along with the development of e-commerce, the appearance of Tan Thanh market is also gradually changing.
Besides traditional stalls, many "trend" warehouses are opened behind kiosks, operating silently with packaging, livestreaming and selling goods on social networks and e-commerce platforms.
Some small traders said that selling directly and online in parallel helps them maintain revenue in the context that the number of customers coming to the market is no longer stable.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Vu Quang Khanh - Deputy Head of the Dong Dang - Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone Management Board said that after implementing the two-level government model, trading activities in the Tan Thanh border gate market area have been assigned to Hoang Van Thu commune for direct management to increase proactiveness in operating and supervising trade activities in the area.
The further into the afternoon, the more prominent the red color of Tet decorations becomes. Lanterns, parallel sentences, decorative strings hanging high, making small stalls become brilliant in the cramped space.
When sunset falls, mountain dew begins to fade in the market alley. Some stalls pull the iron doors, others are still lit, taking advantage of selling the remaining bids at the end of the day...
