Vietnamese and Thai Markets
OUTDOOR and INDOOR Markets
When Debb and I first discussed this trip, we agreed that one of our favourite items on any travel trip, is wandering through the various markets that each country locale might offer. Our trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand and Hanoi, Viet Nam was no exception!
One our first night in Chiang Mai, we were starving and were told about an outdoor night food market near our hotel. Despite the rain and darkness, (and likely driven by our hunger), we came into this market which was full of stalls filled with the most delicious food and drinks! We dined on a delicious noodle soup broth and vegetables and stuffed ourselves with the lasting comment that “we’d be back and would likely eat our way from stall to stall”! haha!
Just one of the stands at the night food market in Chiang Mai (DA Donnelly, 2024)
That fish looks tasty!
Hanoi was no different when we literally stumbled upon the Don Xuan Market in Hanoi on one of our many “getting lost”…oops, I mean “exploring” the streets of Hanoi! With its vast array of goods, not only in quantity and variety but also in smells and aromas, it was a dream to walk the narrow aisles and inhale the many rows of spices, teas, salt fish, nuts, etc. stacked in uniform formation. It seems strange that you’d be able to find anything as there were so many rows to choose from, and yet it also seems strange that it wouldn’t be in this indoor market! This is definitely the place to find wholesale items on sale!
Above: photos from the Don Xuan Market in Hanoi (Deb R, 2024)
Debb bought some jasmine tea and lotus tea in this indoor market!
On one of our excursions outside of Hanoi, Debb and I went to the Potters’ Village / Bat Trang where the whole place was devoted to amazing ceramics! Again, on one of our walks through the town in search of the Pottery Museum (which was incredible and highly recommended - and Debb will write about later), we came across an outdoor market that was full of “live” fish and so many fresh vegetables and fruit. This was how the locals go “grocery shopping” and you couldn’t argue that everything was as fresh as possible! This would be as close to “from farm to table” as you get! The colours and variety are beautiful on its own!
Images from the market at Bat Trang, Vietnam (Deb R, 2024)
P.S. although Debb and I attended the famous Sunday Night Market in Chiang Mai, I don’t have any photos as correctly or incorrectly, I thought we couldn’t take photos? Too bad as I think this was my favourite outdoor market due to the variety of goods, arts, clothes, and of course FOOD! Debb already mentioned in her Thai food blog about her amazing grilled corn-on-the-cob, the best curry chicken bao she’s ever tasted, and a pandan coconut pancake that she had at this outdoor market!
