Unique highland market
When coming to Van Son, visitors will immediately be attracted by the spacious space, completely different from the narrowness of the city. The winding roads embrace the mountain slopes, when opened, in front of the green rice fields, when suddenly leading down to the peaceful village with traditional stilt houses.
At ideal altitude, the climate is cool all year round, the early morning is cold, the afternoon is sunny and light on the hillside. It is that harmony that creates its own appeal, making Van Son an ideal destination for those who desire to return to pristine nature.
One of the typical cultural features of this land is Lung Van market. Lung Van market meets every Tuesday morning. Right from the early morning, groups of people gathered to carry goods, cross the winding, steep slopes along the mountain slope to go to the market.
On the way, bright smiles, resounding stories in the mist and clouds make the atmosphere like a festival. For the people, the market is not only for business, but also an opportunity to meet friends, relatives, and exchange news after a week of work.
The goods in the market are mostly local products: wild bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, wood ear, hill chicken, honey, clean vegetables... made by the people themselves, picked from the forest, raised on the fields. In addition, there are sophisticated brocade fabrics, traditional dresses and handmade silver jewelry. Many tourists really like to buy these small gifts as souvenirs.
What makes the market different is the way of exchanging goods. Many people still keep the habit of "exchanging goods for goods", clearly expressing the community culture and mutual support. A bunch of bamboo shoots can be exchanged for a handful of salt, the chicken can be exchanged for a few canots of rice. That rustic quality makes Lung Van market different from other markets in the lowlands, becoming a vivid picture of livelihoods and humanity in the highlands.
For visitors from far away, Lung Van market is a place to experience. The sound of laughter, the scent of rice and grilled meat, the color of Muong dresses are brilliant in the midst of the vast clouds... creating a convergence space that is both familiar and strange.
"Just one morning at the market is enough to see a miniature picture of mountain life" - Ms. Tran Thu Hang, a tourist from Hanoi, expressed.
Preserving and promoting cultural values associated with tourism
In the context of integration, many traditional values are at risk of being lost, but Lung Van market still retains its inherent unique features. People not only see the market as a place for trading, but also as a "school" to pass on culture to their children and grandchildren. From greeting, trading, to wearing Muong dresses to the market, all contribute to nurturing national pride.
Local authorities also soon realized the value of the market in developing community tourism. For many years, Van Son commune has invested in infrastructure, upgraded roads, and promoted the image of the market associated with the identity of Muong Bi.
Experiential tours are increasingly bringing Van Son into the journey, connecting with neighboring destinations such as Pu Luong, Ba Khan, Mai Chau. Thanks to that, the market not only serves the lives of people, but also becomes an attractive tourism product.
Tourists coming here often do not miss the opportunity to enjoy the cuisine right in the market. The rice is dipped in sesame salt, the grilled pork is grilled with pink coal, the sticky sticky rice with sticky rice and sticky rice is fragrant, the cup of sweet wine needs to be... full of the flavors of the mountains and forests.
Many people also took the opportunity to buy more wild vegetables, dried bamboo shoots, and honey to bring home as gifts. For international visitors, the market is an ideal place to access indigenous culture, observe and directly participate in daily activities of the community.
According to Mr. Nguyen Duy Tu - Party Secretary, Chairman of the People's Council of Van Son commune, developing tourism associated with cultural preservation is considered a sustainable direction.
"We consider Lung Van market an important part of local tourism products. Promoting the value of the market not only improves the lives of people, but also contributes to promoting Muong Bi culture more widely", Mr. Tu emphasized.
In fact, the appearance of tourism has brought new sources of income to many households. In addition to selling agricultural products, people also expand homestay services, organize rice planting, bamboo picking, and food processing experiences. Some households have also prepared camping space, serving tourists camping in the valley of white clouds. This method both creates more livelihoods and retains customers for longer.
Mr. Thanh Hai - the owner of a homestay in Chien hamlet, Van Son commune, shared: "Western customers really like to fully immerse themselves in the village life. They eagerly go to the market with the people, cook together, and even harvest rice together in the fields. It is that sincerity and rusticity that makes them want to return many times".
Today, Van Son is not only a mountainous commune with many difficulties, but is also becoming a potential destination. This place brings together all the beauty of nature, culture and people. In the midst of modern filming, the journey back to "The Road of Muong Land" is the way for each person to regain balance, so that when leaving, they still have a feeling of nostalgia in their hearts.
