Vieng Market Festival

Illustrative image

(Cinet)- Only once in a year, Vieng market festival is launched on the annual 8th day of the first lunar month in Nam Truc and Vu Ban Districts.
 
Legend has it that Vieng market is linked somehow to the person who brought copper casting to the area, Nguyen. Minh Khong, so people who go the market feel that they will get lucky if they buy something made of copper at Vieng market on this day.
People thought of the folk-song as a reminder:
"Enjoying the New Year’s day at home on the 1st
Engaging sports festival at communal house on the 2nd
Going to Qua Linh market on the 4th
Then Trinh market on 5th and Goi market on 6th
The following 7th is just for rest
Packing and travelling to Vieng market on 8th
Because it just takes place once a year."
The unique thing of Vieng market is that it is organized once a year in the 8^th of first lunar month, however, on the night of 7^th, the people from everywhere have chance to join in the market to seek for luck in Kim Thai commune, Vu Ban district, Nam Dinh province.
That is the moment of heavenly-earthly, positive-negative exchange. According to the popular belief, at the time, men and Gods could reach together and all the prayers could be perceived more clearly. Trade could at the time take place smoothly. The market-goers not only just enjoy the market atmosphere but also bring along the feeling toward Mother, praying for fortune and favourable nature, rich crops, happy family. They buy and sell just for aspiration at luck in the rest of the year.
In this market, people do not make overprice or bargain. This is a nice feature of the traditional country market which is not preserved by many regions. People seem to hold a religious awareness, that only buy or sell one small thing, they would believe they will have luck and they will be happy to be back and come to the pagoda to wish for luck.
Therefore, the old Vieng market was named Cau May market (wish for luck). The Vieng market is in Trung Thanh commune. It is surrounded by a complex of culture and history complex like temple, communal houses including Van Cat temple, mausoleum, King temple, Long Van pagoda, etc which are the famous vestiges of many centuries.
The cheapest things at Vieng would be flowers and trees, which bring both the buyer and seller happiness and luck. From around 2a.m, deals are done under the light of candles or flash-lights. Deals are agreed quickly, as people believe, to keep the luck. From 6a.m, local people bring farming tools such as hoes and sickles to sell, which relate closely to their lives. Buyers believe that the tools will bring them health and richness. Vieng market also is also a place to relax. Lovers would find themselves or their happy future here.
Vieng market is actually typical to an agricultural countryside that is rich in natural products, a kind of radiant open-air “fair” produced by the local farmers, especially ornamental plants, speciality crops, subtle craft articles, utensils, bronze and iron-made tools, etc. This spring market displays handicraft products, antiquities and false antiquities, utensils, tools for agriculture production, and many kinds of ornamental plants. Specialities are barbecued beef and “bánh dày” (sticky rice cake).