From 2 pm to 7 pm every day, the culinary area at Cat Bi market begins to "wake up" with the seductive aroma of a series of dishes likened to human beauty. The smell of stir-fried bean sprouts, rib porridge, crab noodle soup, banh beo... blends and spreads throughout the space, strong enough to hold anyone passing by.
Dubbed the "cheap food paradise" or "junk food sanctuary" of the Port city, the market not only serves local people but also becomes a familiar destination on the Hai Phong food tour map. Tourists from Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, and even from many remote provinces and cities also come to experience and "test" the attraction of this place.
During the April 30 - May 1 holiday, the atmosphere at the market is even more bustling. "Specialties" such as banh beo are often quickly sold out, forcing diners to come early. At about 5 pm, many small traders are used to saying "out of stock" when clearing their counters.
Ms. Nguyen Mai Hoa - a long-time small trader - shared that previously the market mainly served people around the area, so the amount of goods was not large. However, since food tours developed, the number of customers increased sharply, she had to increase the quantity of goods by 2-3 times but still not enough to meet demand, especially on weekends or holidays.
Similarly, Ms. Luong Thi Thu Van said that in addition to familiar porridge dishes, she has added hot banh duc and drinks to serve the diverse needs of diners.
Notably, despite the increased number of customers during the holidays, eateries at the market still maintained the same price, only increasing the number of servings. This is also one of the factors that helps the culinary area score points in the eyes of tourists.
Ms. Ngo Thu Ha (Phu Tho) shared that although she came to Hai Phong 5 years ago, this is the first time she has visited the market according to suggestions from groups. "I was surprised because the price is very cheap, a sandwich is only from 5,000 VND but still attractive, eating one makes me want to eat more" - Ms. Ha said.
With an area of about 50m2, the food area at Cat Bi market gathers dozens of stalls close together. Here, diners can easily find a series of Hai Phong specialties such as crab noodles, bean sprouts, beef skin, sticky rice with cassava, bean crab spring rolls, beo cake... creating a popular but attractive culinary space.
In addition to the culinary area, Cat Bi market also displays a variety of items serving daily life such as clothes, shoes, household appliances, accessories and fresh food. Booths are arranged alternately, creating a vibrant shopping space from morning to night.
For many local people like Mr. Nguyen Truong Minh (Hai An ward, Hai Phong), returning to Cat Bi market is like returning to childhood.
Since I was a child, every time after school, my grandmother would take me for a walk around the market, both for her to buy food for the whole family and for me to have snacks in the afternoon. When I returned, the market area was more spacious, cleaner, and more clearly planned, which made me feel very surprised" - Mr. Minh expressed.
For Mr. Minh, although the cost has increased according to the market, compared to the general level, Cat Bi market is still a place "easy to eat, easy to buy, easy to have a full stomach" to take home. "It is no exaggeration to say that "This is the cheapest market in the inner city of Hai Phong" - Mr. Minh said with a smile.
