Unique Boc Bo market

A corner selling local agricultural products of San Chi women.

On market days, when the sky is still foggy, around 5-6 am, from the winding mountain roads, highland people eagerly flock to the center of Bang Thanh commune. On their backs they carry goods, in their hands they carry bamboo shoots, vegetables, wine, meat...

Quick footsteps and loud calls along the street signaled that a colorful market was approaching.

From 6am, baskets of goods were placed in familiar corners, people from everywhere poured in, and at around 7:30am, Boc Bo market began to bustle, laughter and calls of invitations filled the aisles.

Colorful brocade dresses, green baskets of vegetables, bunches of ripe bananas, white beans, wild bamboo shoots… make the market picture come alive and realistic like a highland festival.

The market is divided into many areas with a variety of typical products. In the agricultural products corner, bunches of upland vegetables, bunches of ripe bananas, plump white beans, fragrant ginger... are all brought from the village for sale. Prices are very reasonable, such as white beans for 10,000 VND per bunch, bananas for only 5,000 VND per bunch, upland vegetables from 3,000 to 5,000 VND per bunch.

Rows of corn wine stalls at the market.

In the agricultural products selling area, Ms. Trieu Thi Nhien, Bang Thanh commune, sat selling and shared: I left at 6 am, bringing with me vegetables, bananas, ginger, white beans, these are things I grew myself, I'm almost sold out, probably it will be gone soon. Nearby is the local pork corner, where people sell fresh, home-raised, home-butchered local pork, priced at about 120,000 VND/kg.

Right next to it are baskets of fresh, green vegetables, neatly tied into small bundles. Among them are bamboo cages with puppies inside, creating a market corner that is both intimate and bustling with the colors of life.

The corn wine area was crowded with customers from early morning. About 10 Dao and Tay women each brought 10 to 20 liters of wine made from corn leaves, a specialty of the highlands. All customers were free to taste it before buying. The mild aroma and sweet taste on the tip of the tongue made the corn wine here always in high demand, selling for only 20,000 VND per liter.

Ethnic minority women going to the market is an opportunity to meet and share, creating a warm and close atmosphere.

Mrs. Trinh Thi Dat, Nghien Loan commune, who has been selling wine at the market for nearly 20 years, happily said: Today I brought 20 liters, and have sold 15 liters. Corn wine with yeast leaves is very delicious, and when drunk, you don't get a headache. At around 9 am, rustic drinking parties began to form right at the corner of the market. Elderly people and young people from the villages who could drink wine sat in groups. Corn wine was poured into large bowls and shared among them. Snacks included boiled hill chicken, smoked buffalo meat, wild bamboo shoots, tofu, roasted peanuts, some were bought at the market, some were prepared at home. The atmosphere was lively, full of laughter and chatter, many women drank quite a lot but were still alert, their cheeks rosy in the early morning sun.

The colorful traditional costume corner is arranged into separate areas: Area for Dao people's costumes, area for Mong people's costumes, area for Tay people's costumes and area for San Chi people's costumes...

In addition, there are all kinds of accessories such as scarves, children's hats, brocade bags, bracelets, necklaces or sophisticated patterns attached to shirts made of alloy or silver, all skillfully handmade by the people. Because of the richness and cultural imprint, the corner selling traditional costumes is always crowded with people coming to shop... creating a unique and distinctive feature of a highland market.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202508/doc-dao-cho-phien-boc-bo-eae4555/