The Roadside Attraction: A Unique Marketplace in An Giang, Vietnam Does this satisfy your request?

Around 8 a.m., the market is still sparse, with vendors arranging their goods to prepare for the day’s customers. Tubers such as sweet potatoes, cassava, yam, water chestnuts, taro, and lotus roots are piled on the ground. From 9 a.m. onwards, the market buzzes with activity as shoppers flock to the stalls. Housewives haggle over prices, trying to get a good bargain. As most of the produce comes directly from local gardens and farms, the goods are always fresh, with prices ranging from 20,000 to 35,000 VND per kg.

After purchasing some sweet potatoes as souvenirs, we continued our exploration of the market. Despite being called a “market,” the place is essentially a 200-meter-long row of kiosks situated along the highway. Interestingly, these stalls offer not only agricultural produce but also a variety of specialty products from the Mekong Delta region, such as soy sauce, fermented bean curd, palm sugar, rice crackers, and coconut candies.

A Haven for Bird Lovers

While agricultural produce used to be the main attraction, the market has recently gained fame for its wide variety of wild birds and animals. Many passersby are drawn to the market to purchase birds like “cúm núm” and “cu đất” for a unique culinary experience. Unlike other markets, this place offers a diverse range of these birds, making it a popular stop for enthusiasts.

The majority of customers in this section are men. For those unfamiliar with the bird species, the abundance of options can be overwhelming: “cu đất,” “gà nước,” “điêng điểng,” “cu gáy,” “le le,” “cò,” “cúm núm,” “vạc,” and “dồng dộc,” to name a few. Additionally, there are stalls selling snakes, rodents, eels, and even decorative birds. Despite the end of the flood season and the decreasing availability of wild animals, the market remains well-stocked. According to a vendor, the supply primarily comes from neighboring provinces, particularly Cambodia. It’s not uncommon for the market to sell dozens of kilograms of poultry daily.

The friendly and accommodating sales style of the vendors makes shopping a pleasant experience. Prices are flexible, ranging from a few dozen thousand dong per bird to several hundred thousand dong for bulk purchases. Upon request, vendors will pluck and clean the birds for customers’ convenience during transport. Children in the market are accustomed to handling live birds, effortlessly catching and caging them without fear.

Thạnh Hóa’s agricultural market has become a familiar destination for many food enthusiasts. However, a concerning aspect is the sale of wild and even rare animal species. While authorities occasionally inspect and take action, the enforcement is not stringent. According to the Long An Provincial Forest Ranger Department, the bird species sold in the market are not on the list of rare and endangered animals as per Decree 32/2006/NĐ-CP and Circular 47/2012 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. This makes it challenging to impose penalties. Additionally, the origin of these birds and the hunting methods employed by suppliers remain unclear.

Recognizing this issue, the Long An Provincial People’s Committee has repeatedly requested the People’s Committee of Thạnh Hóa district to rectify the situation. They have also urged locals to refrain from buying and selling wild birds to prevent the spread of diseases and maintain a positive image. However, as long as the demand persists, the supply is likely to continue. We can only hope that human greed does not drive these bird species to the brink of extinction…