Hanoi (VNA) - No one can count how many markets there are in Vietnam butmany agree that they are the vivid reflection of the Vietnamese culture.Markets vary by regions. It is their uniqueness that inspires tourists, areport by The Voice of Vietnam (VOV).

Marketsin Vietnam offer beautiful cultural specificities. In the countryside, theyconstitute a place for goods exchanges and community activities, forming partof the local customs. In the past, each village had one small market and eachdistrict has a larger periodic market.

Luor Lua market in Minh Nong commune, northern Phu Tho province meets on the 3rd,8th, 13th, 18th, and 23rd every lunar month. During these days, the market ismore crowded and sells more goods. Local farmers sell their home-made orhome-grown products.

"The Lu market has existed for a long time. Previously, our commune wascalled Ke Lu or Ke Gac, now Minh Nong. Rice is the main commodity here. We alsosell vegetables, tea, and other essentials. The market is divided by types ofgoods on sale", Le Thi Dac, a Minh Nong local, told VOV.

Inthe northern mountain region, market sessions are also the community festivals,where locals dress up and come to meet their friends after buying and selling.

Marketsessions in the mountainous region look colourful with brocade clothes on saleand worn by local ethnic minority people as well as a variety of goods.

In Ha Giang province, the markets meet every week minus one day, which means,if it meets on Sunday this week, in the following week, it will meet onSaturday and so on.

Meanwhile, district markets often meet on Sunday with young ladies intraditional multicoloured dresses, an umbrella in hand and a papoose on theback. Young men bring with them poultry, pigs and oxen. Mountain marketsattract a lot of tourists.

Inthe south, the Mekong Delta is distinguished by its floating markets, like CaMau floating market in Ca Mau province, Cai Be in Tien Giang and Phong Dien andCai Rang in Can Tho.

Floatingmarkets are closely associated with southerners’ life. Both buyers and sellersgo to the market by boat.

Cai Rang market in Can Tho is an example. The market works all day, but is mostbusy in the morning, around nine or ten o'clock. The boats gather on the watercourseand trade all kinds of agricultural, food and beverage products.

Theexchanges are made without bargaining. Sellers are local people who sellproducts of their orchards.

Ngo Van Truong, tourists from Hanoi, said: "It is very interesting to goto the floating market where you can explore the lives of the people in theMekong Delta. They are quite different from those in northern Vietnam. This ismy first visit to the market. It’s fun.” - VNA