February 05, 2017 | 19:17 (GMT+7)
People buy goods for good luck at Vieng Market
PANO - Once a year, the Vieng market festival is held from midnight of the 7th day of the first month of the Lunar New Year in Vu Ban district, Nam Dinh province. This year’s market was opened at midnight on February 3, but many had arrived early in the marketplace right in the afternoon.
Vieng market is a special festival which is organized only once a year from midnight of the 7th day to the end of the 8th day of the first month of the Lunar New Year.
Security force was mobilized to ensure security and order at the festival.
Many families taking their children to the market very early
The market starts getting busy from 2pm.
According to common belief, people come to the market to "buy good luck and sell bad luck"; pray for fortune, favorable weather and successful business. That is why both sellers and buyers do not overcharge or bargain over goods.
Regarding the spiritual belief of trading in Vieng market, people buy and sell simple and tiny things just in the hope of good luck for the rest of the year.
At Vieng market, various kinds of trees, including fruits, flowers and bonsais, are sold, but the fig tree is the best-seller as the tree holds spiritual cultural values, symbolizing the fullness and prosperity in life.
Many utensils are sold at Vieng market such as sickles, knives, hoes.
A seller rearranging his goods while waiting for visitors
The closer to the opening of the market it got, the more people flocked to the market.
While many are still coming to Vieng market, some have purchased satisfactory items and started going home.
Source: cand.com.vn
Translated by Thu Hang