Ky Lua Market is a market opened by Han Quan Cong Than Cong Tai in the 17th century for Vietnamese and Chinese residents to trade.
Over the centuries, Ky Lua market has become a bustling center for trading and exchanging goods, a meeting place and cultural exchange place for ethnic groups: Tay, Nung, Kinh, Dao, Hoa... inside and outside Lang Son.
Walking along Ky Lua street, taking a walk around Ky Lua market on the afternoon of the 4th day of Tet At Ty 2025, Lao Dong Newspaper reporter noted that a few stalls at the market were bustling with spring opening.
Ms. Ly Thi Hieu (Dong Kinh ward, Lang Son city) - a vendor at Ky Lua market - said that she has been selling votive offerings at the market for over 30 years. In the past, there were days when the market was packed with people, both inside and outside, with buyers and sellers bustling about, but in recent years the number of customers coming to shop at the market has decreased.
"I sell votive offerings opposite Ta Phu Temple. The first days of the year are quite crowded so I try to start the spring early. On weekdays, it's quiet so I sell slowly. Now that many people buy things online, the market is not as bustling as before. The vendors often tell each other not to overcharge to keep customers," Ms. Hieu shared.
Sharing the same opinion with Ms. Hieu, Ms. Bui Thi Loan (Tam Thanh ward, Lang Son city) - a trader at Ky Lua market - said that the market is no longer as bustling as before, currently it is mainly regular customers coming to buy goods. Therefore, to retain old customers and attract new ones, traders at the market absolutely do not overcharge, at the same time improve the quality, diversify the designs and types of goods.
"For example, I currently sell clothes in 5 stalls, the total cost at the market is 10 million VND/month, because I have a number of regular customers, I can still sell goods and maintain my business. Competition with online goods has changed the market a lot compared to before, the goods are better and the prices are more affordable" - Ms. Loan said.
Mr. Hoang Van Hoa - a resident of Gia Cat commune, Cao Loc district - shared: "My wife likes to shop online, but I still keep the habit of shopping at Ky Lua market. Because traditional markets have their own features and advantages. For example, when buying clothes, I can see them with my own eyes, try them on until they fit, and more importantly, they are affordable and meet my needs."
During the market days, Ky Lua market is the most bustling and crowded, when ethnic people from many districts of the province come to trade all kinds of goods, from bamboo baskets, shoulder poles, to hoes, shovels, machetes, fruits, seedlings... At that time, the market will be colorful with the traditional costumes of the ethnic groups, in the middle of the border city, visitors can easily hear people communicating in Tay, Nung languages, even singing sli, singing luong...
According to Mr. Ma Thai Hoc (Chi Lang ward, Lang Son city) - security guard at Ky Lua market, currently, all the stalls that have opened for spring are the ones outside, adjacent to the street. The remaining stalls inside the market (mainly selling electronics, household appliances, fashion) will open for spring on the 6th of January. Regarding the market sessions, each month, the market meets 6 sessions on the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd, and 27th of the lunar calendar.
