Po Hen Market - A cultural bridge between two countries
On October 22, 2023, Hai Son commune, Mong Cai city, Quang Ninh province held the inauguration and opening of Po Hen market. After more than 1 year of re-opening, Po Hen market has become a meeting place for people in the Vietnam - China border area.
Po Hen Market is located in Hai Son commune, a mountainous commune 35km from Mong Cai city center, with three ethnic groups Kinh, Dao, and San Chi living together.
This place is identified as a highland, border area with an important strategic position in terms of national defense and security. With its unique geographical location, Po Hen is a long-standing traditional market, a place for people in the region to exchange goods and trade with Than San village (China).
In 2000, Hai Son commune rebuilt the market. However, from 2019 to 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the market stopped operating and deteriorated. In 2023, the city allocated capital to renovate the market, and currently there are 30 households registered to do business regularly. The market meets on the 2nd, 5th, 8th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 22nd, 25th, and 28th of the lunar month.
At the fair, the ethnic people display and sell Hai Son's culinary brand products with specialties such as: black duck, local pig, stream fish, wild vegetables, honey, sim wine, yellow flower tea, five-color sticky rice, and many other special agricultural and forestry products. The colorful traditional costumes of the Dao and San Chi people are also an attractive point for tourists to have beautiful pictures when immersing themselves in the life of the highland people.
Within the framework of the fair, there are also many unique cultural and artistic activities such as folk dance performances, traditional costume demonstrations, and folk game competitions of ethnic groups in Hai Son commune.
A representative of the Department of Culture and Information of Mong Cai City said: "When coming to Po Hen market, visitors will be connected to visit tourist attractions in Hai Son commune such as Po Hen National Historical Site, milestone 1347, Dang family mural village, Pa Nai mountain. This is a destination that attracts visitors during the Fall - Winter tourist season, helping to develop the economy and society of ethnic minority areas and preserve cultural beauty with national identity."
Dong Van Market, Binh Lieu - Cultural meeting place of the Northeast region
Dong Van market at the foot of Cao Ba Lanh mountain, Binh Lieu district, Quang Ninh province is usually the busiest on Saturdays. The market is divided into many different areas (food court, brocade area, agricultural products...) and sells many types of leaves and herbal baths of ethnic minorities, some of which are only sold on market days.
Each stall here is like a small “advertising shop” for Binh Lieu tourism. The most special is the market associated with the “Wind Abstinence Day” of the Dao Thanh Phan ethnic group on the 4th day of the 4th lunar month every year, originating from the traditional customs of the Dao people, with the purpose of avoiding wild animals, natural disasters and praying for a bountiful harvest, a prosperous and comfortable life.
Ms. Ly Thi Hanh - Phat Chi Hamlet, Dong Van Commune, Binh Lieu District - said: “According to the concept of the Dao Thanh Phan people, on abstinence days, such as February 2, March 3, April 4, May 5, July 7, August 8, September 9 of the lunar calendar and some other abstinence days, families will go to the market. Especially on “Wind abstinence day”, families will leave their homes early in the morning so that the wind god can enter the house to take away bad luck and bring luck and peace. On this day, the Dao people often visit each other, exchange culture through Pa Dung singing melodies, “tieng get” trumpet sounds and go to the market together to buy necessary items for life and production”.
In today's fast-paced life, each market in the border area of Quang Ninh province has its own unique features. Visiting each market, visitors not only experience the simple, peaceful life but also experience the cultural specialties of the people and the borderland to better understand and love every inch of Vietnam.
(Posted on the special edition of Lao Dong Xuan At Ty)
