A Unique Market That Opens on the First Day of Tet
Go Market is situated on a small hill at the foot of Truong Uc Mountain, along the Ha Thanh River that flows into Thi Nai Lagoon. Despite being called a market, it is actually just an open space with no permanent stalls or shops. Throughout the year, no trading activities take place here, except for a single market session on the first day of Tet.
According to legend, Go Market originated during the time of the Tay Son brothers’ uprising. This area used to be a military training ground for infantry based at Truong Uc Mountain and naval forces from Thi Nai Lagoon. To dispel homesickness during Tet, the Tay Son generals organized festivities on the training ground on the first day of the new year.
It is said that the soldiers and their families enjoyed themselves until sunset, after which the soldiers returned to their guard duties while their families headed home. This became an annual tradition, with the soldiers’ families gathering here every year on the first day of spring, bringing local specialties to exchange.
Over time, this custom became a ritual. Even after the fall of the Tay Son dynasty, the locals continued to maintain this tradition as an annual spring festival.
During the French colonial period, due to restrictions on large gatherings, the market sometimes had to be held at night. Despite heavy rains or floods, the people persevered and braved the elements to attend the market, standing in the water to sell their goods.
Thanks to the community’s dedication to preserving the rustic charm of this country market, Go Market has survived for centuries. It serves as a tribute to the Tay Son generals and also symbolizes the community’s aspirations for joy and good fortune in the new year.
Buying Luck and Seeking Love
Unlike ordinary markets, Go Market resembles a spring festival. As soon as the Lunar New Year’s Eve fireworks end, people from all over bring local specialties such as vegetables, fruits, and food products, but the most common items are betel and areca nuts.
Following customs, customers usually buy 12 betel leaves representing the 12 months of the year, two areca nuts, some slaked lime from Truong Uc Mountain, and a cluster of figs symbolizing abundance and wealth. The betel and areca nuts are typically placed on the ancestral altar or used for fortune-telling. Many people also bring these items to the graves on Truong Uc Mountain.
Salt is another popular item, as the saying goes, “Buy salt at the beginning of the year and slaked lime at the end.” Interestingly, no one haggles over prices at this market. The buying and selling here are more about exchanging lucky tokens and wishing each other prosperity for the year ahead.
A unique aspect of this market is that young couples often come here to buy betel, areca nuts, and slaked lime as a way of seeking romantic blessings. Many couples have found their life partners through this special market.
Apart from buying lucky tokens, visitors also participate in folk games such as hat boi (classical Vietnamese opera), hat bai choi (a game involving singing and lottery tickets), walking on stilts, martial arts performances, and human chess.
The tradition of writing lucky red couplets at Go Market is also preserved. Elderly scholars, wearing traditional headwear and robes, sit and write couplets on red paper, creating a scene that embodies the essence of Tet traditions.
A Unique Cultural Feature of the “Land of Martial Arts”
Despite only operating for one day a year, Go Market embodies the rich cultural heritage of the nation. It stands out among thousands of markets and has been ranked among the “100 Most Unique Markets in Vietnam” by the Vietnam Records Book Center.
Go Market is the largest spring festival in Binh Dinh Province and has been preserved for centuries as a unique community cultural feature. With its historical value and profound cultural significance, the local government is gathering historical documents to propose the recognition of Go Market as an intangible cultural heritage of the nation.
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