Perhaps nowhere is life more vivid and does space have imbue Hanoi’s peculiar colors than at bustling markets in late afternoon.
If you want to discover culinary culture of a region, where will you go? To me, the answer is local markets, always. A crowded market in late afternoon has full tastes of a city or a country. In Vietnam, particularly Hanoi, the more accurate the answer is. Wandering over markets, you can see partly the life of Hanoi’s families, as well as Vietnam culture.
Butcher’s stalls and fish areas are the most crowded. At butcher’s stalls, fresh, greasy pieces of meat are arranged neatly on wooden tables. Mothers and grandmothers pick up then put down; point out, examine and select carefully to sellers cut meat quickly as lightning. Plump fish with sparkle scales and argent body struggle strongly in basins. Strong fishy smell make everyone be more carefully to avoid being splashed whenever going through fish stalls.Nicest ones are still vegetable and fruit areas, which are always bright by its fresh and cool green. Ripe red tomatoes, well-rounded potatoes covered a thin layer of soil, tender white of lemongrass’s trunks, violet garlic bunches, along with green vegetable clusters and red chili peppers, all create lively and tranquil daily life’s pictures.
Thinking, all family meals of Hanoi people begin from markets. Recipes, sophisticated and subtle points, and secrets on dishes will have the answers here. Market, where is the busiest, most animated and exciting in late afternoon, contains full of tastes of Hanoi people.
Let’s immerse in picturesque markets in Hanoi.
1. Hom market
As one of the most well-known market in this thousand-year capital, you can find everything in Hom. The market is divided into many sections, including areas of meat, fish, vegetables, sweets and groceries. There is a large part for trading footwear and bags. A whole the second floor is for cloth. Not only the interior market, even in the outside, there are many hawkers. Sometimes, do not need to go the inside, you can also buy sufficient food for your dinner.
2. Hang Be market
This market is located in the Old quarter. Therefore, many people believe that food and other goods at here are greater than others. But definitely food in Hang Be is truly nice. Housewives living on ancient streets are well-known as gourmets, who are really fastidious and picky. So meat and fish at Hang Be need to be always fresh. Dried food, fish sauce, or even cooked food and ready meals also have to be delicious, spicy and aromatic.
3. Thanh Cong market
If Hom market is the hot hub of Hai Ba Trung district and Hang Be is the “boss” of all markets at the Old quarter, Thanh Cong is the most famous one at the La Thanh and Giang Vo area. Although being far away from the Old quarter and wholesale markets, Thanh Cong is not less than others about bustling and animation. Coming the market in rush hours, you will be overwhelmed by the crowded scene with full of buyers and a lot of fresh, attractive aliments displayed for sale. Thanks to being far from the centre, the prices at here are pretty cheap.
4. Dong Xuan market
This ancient market is the most bustling in Hanoi, where you buy everything, from all kinds of fabric, to candy, cake, and even notebook, stationery. Truly, entering Dong Xuan market is not only to go shopping. That is to contemplate colorful grocery stalls or radiant textile stalls full of vignettes; to listen to noisy talk sound from sales people, who are capricious and impulsive in a likeable way; and to feel the safe and sound rhythm of life of roseate workers.
5. Long Bien market
Maybe there is no place in Hanoi that you can feel an animated night life as Long Bien market. This night market is not exciting with many gaieties like Dong Xuan night market. It is a wholesale market running from mid-night. Long Bien is the market of silent laborers, who work hard to prepare food and other aliments for the day’s demand of all the city. Pigs having just been slaughtered still emit heat. Fresh fish have just been unloaded from boxes. Ripe fruits have just been put into capes. All merchandises then distribute everywhere in the city. Whether it is hot or cold rainy, the market does not rest any day. Silent, busy and full tastes of life, this is Long Bien market.
6. Quang Ba flower market
To see another stunning and animate perspective of Hanoi, you can visit Quang Ba market, but should be at night or early morning. You may come here at 4-5a.m, or even earlier, at 2-3 a.m, if possible, and better if it is winter. At this time, you will be lost in a busy market with numerous basins and buckets containing colorful fresh flowers that are sold with wholesale prices. Contemplating radiant flowers at freezing winter night, you will experience the most beautiful moments that Hanoi specially gives for you.
