After being relocated in 2010 to give space to other services, the ancient market has left many regrets. Below is a nostalgic picture of the market before moving to a new location.

Dong Van Market meets in a fixed session, on all Sundays. This place attracts a lot of people from all ethnic groups in Dong Van district. Before, when motorbikes were not known, Hmong people from far away had to go from the previous afternoon to go to the market early the next day.

Dong Van ancient market consists of 3 blocks of houses built in the shape of a U-shaped stone, almost intact to this day. In this space is a row of traditional food stalls, the smoke emanating from the Thang Co pan, the bowl of pho… the fragrant aroma creates a vibrant market space with bold characteristics of the people here.

Outside the U-shaped stone space, people also meet and trade many items arranged in each zone, the area selling chests (boxes), selling alcohol, selling pigs, dogs… In the distance is the roof. Overhanging tiles of a row of houses in Dong Van Old Quarter.

Thang Co is a famous and very typical dish of Dong Van stone highland fairs. Thang Co wok is cooked from horse meat and organs, with traditional Hmong spices that bring an unmistakable taste, very attractive.

The Mong people who go to the market to eat Thang Co often bring a bag of rice or sticky rice to eat with. This is a very popular dish of the Mong people. In the photo, Vang Sinh Ly and his wife (Ta Lung commune, Dong Van) are happily enjoying Thang Co at the market.

In addition, pho served with rice noodles or shrimp noodles is also very crowded. This dish is a dish that almost everyone who comes to the market enjoys.

Coming to Dong Van market, the most crowded are Mong people, followed by Tay, Nung, Han, Mong, Hoa, Dao… In Dong Van old quarter, there are about 40 old houses, of which the oldest are two. house of the Luong family, dating back to 300 years, the rest of the houses are about 100 years old.

The market meets from early morning, until noon, it dissolves. People go to the market to buy essential items, food, livestock and poultry. Some people just hug a chicken, or a small dog, go to the market and sell it to get money for shopping. In the photo is the area selling chests outside the market.

Portrait of a Hmong child.

The custom of the people here is to tie the piglets with a leash, not put them in cages, whoever buys looks down. This is quite a busy area at the market, they only sell piglets.

People go to the market outside to shop, it is also a place to meet and exchange, a place to hang out and enjoy their favorite dishes. The market is everything for the people here. In the photo is a pub at the old house next to the U-shaped stone house.

Hmong men enjoy playing birds and playing the flute. The Hmong’s trumpets can take a whole week, at the market, they bring them down to exchange, buy and sell, blow the rustic trumpets to bring the dance of couples.

In the past, people knew how to spin linen yarn, weave cloth, and sew for themselves traditional ethnic clothes. But less and less, the market sells many types of ready-made clothes of different ethnic groups, at relatively cheap prices and with a wide variety. Pictured is the clothing store. 

The products that are brought to the market for sale, although not many, are very special and there are many types that are harvested from the wild.

After moving the location in 2010, the ancient stone space darkened with time has become a mixed service area with restaurants, cafes…. The most famous market of Dong Van stone plateau is now gone. old times. Follow Dan Tri