Known as the “kingdom of fermented fish” in the Mekong Delta, Chau Doc Market is a must-visit destination in An Giang Province for many tourists.
Situated on Bach Dang Street, Chau Phu A Ward, Chau Doc City, the market is about two kilometers from the city’s center.
Nestled adjacent to the Chau Doc River, from the market, tourists can easily come to Champa villages, Ba Chua Xu (local goddess) Temple, and Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb.
From August to November, tourists can come to experience the life of An Giang residents during the flooding season.
Chau Doc Market opens during the day. Traders begin their job early in the morning but locals often go to the market between six and eight.
Visiting the market in the morning, tourists can enjoy the bustling atmosphere of this food paradise.
Chau Doc Market is the largest trading hub of fermented fish products and dried seafood in the Mekong Delta region. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
The market is divided into areas of processed food, vegetables and fruits, and fermented fish. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
Chau Doc Market is large and divided into separate areas, where various products are on display. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
The market is also famous for specialties other than fermented fish, such as bun mam (noodles with fermented fish paste), bun nuoc leo (noodle soup), mi Quang (Quang noodle soup), hu tieu kho (dried rice noodles), and especially cakes, dishes and beverages made of palmyra palm, a specialty of the Bay Nui (seven mountains) area in An Giang.
Although Chau Doc Market is a well-known tourist site, tourists will not have to worry about being ripped off. The prices of fermented fish products there are low and publicized.
Local residents are friendly and enthusiastic, so tourists can freely ask for the prices of products.
The fermented fish area in Chau Doc Market. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
Many age-old fermented fish stalls in Chau Doc Market are well-known. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
Famous stalls include Ba Giao Khoe, Ba Giao Thao and Hai Xuyen. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
The market is typical of its kind in the region. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
Known as the “kingdom of fermented fish” in the Mekong Delta, Chau Doc Market is a must-visit destination in An Giang Province for many tourists. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
“This is the first time I have come to this market,” Nguyen Ky Anh, a 27-year-old native of Dong Thap Province working as a furniture designer and photographer in Ho Chi Minh City, said.
“It features the most typical characteristics of the region and is actually the land of fermented fish.
“The market highlights the Indochinese architecture. Market stalls still use signboards drawn by hand,” Ky Anh added.
Ky Anh graduated from the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City’s furniture architecture faculty as a valedictorian. Besides design, he is also keen on photography.
Through his photos, Chau Doc Market is represented lively and impressive.
Stalls at the market still use signboards drawn by hand, making the market more special. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
An old woman sells 'ca na' (elaeocarpus hygrophilus), an unforgettable dish with the taste of somewhat sour and acrid. This is a popular kind of fruit in Mekong Delta and is used to make sweet and savory snacks. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
Despite being busy and bustling, the market is also peaceful. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
Travelers should not miss stalls of traditional cakes, selling 'banh bo' (Vietnamese steamed rice cake), 'banh da lon' (steamed layer cake), 'banh bong lan' (sponge cake), and more. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
'Banh bo' (Vietnamese steamed rice cake) is seen at Chau Doc Market. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
Cakes have diversified sizes and kinds. Visitors can buy them as souvenirs or eat them right at the market. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
The fragrance of baked, fried and steamed cakes will retain eaters. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
A seller is grilling banana wrapped in sticky rice at Chau Doc Market. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
The Bay Nui (seven mountains) area is known as the land of palmyra palm. Arriving at Chau Doc Market, visitors can try palmyra palm juice and fresh palmyra palm fruit. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
In addition to sweet dishes, Chau Doc Market has many stalls selling 'bun mam' (noodles with fermented fish paste), 'bun nuoc leo' (noodle soup), 'mi Quang' (Quang noodle soup), 'hu tieu kho' (dried rice noodles), and fried mussel rice with a price of at least VND15,000 ($0.64) per serving. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
The market also has stalls of banh mi. Photo: Ky Anh / Tuoi Tre
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Thanh Ha - Kim Kim / Tuoi Tre News
