Before the official opening ceremony, the atmosphere at Vieng market was bustling and crowded as people from all over flocked to visit, shop and pray for good luck at the beginning of the year.
Right from late afternoon, streams of people flock to the roads leading to the market area. Stalls are displayed close together, creating a bustling scene typical of a market that only meets once a year.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh (a tourist from Hanoi) said that every year her family comes to Vieng market at the beginning of spring and often buys a small ornamental plant or a household item with the desire to get good luck at the beginning of the year.
Not only buyers, but also small traders are busy preparing goods early. Ms. Ngo Thi Luan, a small trader selling ornamental plants, said: "My hometown is in old Thai Binh, every year I prepare ornamental plants to sell at Vieng market. This year, despite the rain, my family still arranged to be present at the market early to prepare. Goods must be displayed before the opening ceremony to be ready to welcome customers. Rainy weather will also be favorable for selling plants. We sell overnight to serve the people.
The main meeting day of Vieng market is only one session on the night of the 7th and early morning of the 8th day of the first lunar month, in front of Mr. Khong's communal house to front of Tien Huong main palace in An Thai commune, former Dong Doi canton; now Vu Ban commune, Ninh Binh province. However, this year, the Vieng fair is held one day before tonight (the 6th day of Tet).
Vieng market displays, introduces, and trades in a variety of products and utensils such as: seedlings, agricultural tools, handicrafts and household appliances.
Today, Vieng market still retains cultural features from ancient times but is organized more large-scale, the market meeting space is large, often stretching from the old Goi town along National Highway 37B of Vu Ban commune to Hien Khanh commune.
According to folk beliefs, the culture of going to Vieng market is "buying good luck, selling bad luck", so no one bargains and anyone buys something for themselves to bring back, from seedlings, ornamental plants, decorative souvenirs to production items, including used items. Besides buying and selling, tourists all go to temples and palaces in the Phu Day relic complex to pray for fortune and peace.
