Higland markets feature unique cultural identities in Quang Ninh

Highland markets in remote communes have become the favourites of travellers keen to discover a high place for cultural exchanges of ethnic groups and full of authenticity.

Those markets such as Ha Lau (Tien Yen district), Quang An (Dam Ha district), Dong Van (Binh Lieu district), etc. have contributed to poverty reduction and the preservation of local cultural values.

The most successful one is Ba Nhat market opened monthly in Dam Ha district’s Quang An commune. The market has dozens of stalls of local people; various local products  such as wild honey, ginger, groundnut, local chicken, wild bamboo shoots, long square sticky rice cakes, coocmo cakes, bath leaves, sticky rice, etc. leave amazing impressions on tourists.

The market also helps people preserve and promote their ethnic identity. Quang An commune has established a Dao ethnic costume sewing and embroidery club with 16 members. Club members sell their hand-made products and promote them to tourists at the market.

Ha Lau market in Tien Yen District often takes place on the last Sunday of each month with a variety of cultural activities such as Sai Ma exchange programs between men in the commune. This is a traditional sport of the Tay people (accounting for 29% of the population in Ha Lau), creating a really exciting festive atmosphere.

This is also a place for people to perform their ethnic melodies. The San Chi people sing Soong Co, the Tay sing Then, and the Dao sing San Co. Local people are more enthusiastic about establishing clubs to sing their ethnic melodies.

Mr. Ly Ngoc Xuan, a member of the Then Singing Club of Ha Lau commune, said: Then melodies have been associated with the youth of many people in our community. We bring the pure beauty of that culture to the market, helping people who come to the market to have more fun and become more respectful to the rich culture of the Tay people.