Weekend market offers glimpse of rural life in Hai Phong
Amid the bustle of urban life, Hang Market in Le Chan Ward retains the character of a traditional rural market, becoming a weekend gathering spot.
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A rural touch in an urban setting
On a Sunday morning, Park Ji Hoon, a visitor from South Korea, followed a tour guide to Hang Market as part of his exploration of Hai Phong. He was struck by the setting, where amid busy streets appeared a “miniature countryside” with ornamental plants, livestock and simple goods.
Hang Market has long become an attractive destination in the city’s tours. Nguyen Phuong Anh, a representative of Green Tourism Co., Ltd. in Hanoi, said: “Visitors, especially foreigners, are very interested in spaces rich in Vietnamese identity like Hang Market. It is not only about trading but also about culture and the daily life of local people.”
In the dynamic port city, Hang Market has retained its distinct character. It operates only on Sunday mornings. Stepping inside, visitors encounter a world very different from modern markets. There are small flower pots, seedlings of various kinds, sprouts, seeds, chicks, cats, dogs and ornamental birds on sale. Interspersed are familiar rural items such as baskets, bamboo trays, and stone mortars, creating a rustic yet lively atmosphere.
Like a fair
Unlike modern markets, Hang Market offers a unique experience. For many Hai Phong residents, visiting the market on Sunday morning has become a habit.
Nguyen Van Bao, a resident of Thuy Nguyen Ward, said: “I have been going to Hang Market for decades. At first I came to buy plants and seedlings, then it became a habit. Now every weekend I come here, meet friends, have tea and enjoy the atmosphere.”
The market is also one of the few places in the city where visitors can find a wide range of odds and ends, from plants and livestock to old items that might otherwise be discarded. Some people come looking for a small screw or spare part to fix household items. Others enjoy searching for old objects that carry traces of time, from radios and electric fans to small items that evoke memories.
The trading atmosphere is also distinctive. Buyers and sellers interact in a gentle and friendly manner, with little intense bargaining. Transactions feel more like social encounters than commercial exchanges.
Hang Market is associated with the old Du Hang village, an area with a long history in the port city. Through urbanization, it has moved from a suburban market to a central urban location. While the surroundings have changed, many traditional practices remain.
As shopping centers continue to expand, Hang Market has maintained its own place, not because of convenience or modernity but due to the unique experience of a rural-style market in the heart of a dynamic and modern city.
Hai Phong News