For some time, every Tet, peddlers of various wares travel to Hoa Bac commune to sell goods to the Co Tu ethnic minority.
They bring clothes, footwear and home appliances from Danang, setting up a small, temporary market that only exists during the Tet season.
Hoa Bac is around 20 kilometres from the city’s centre, but normally Co Tu people are afraid to go there. They would rather wait for the market to be brought to them, as some of them fear the crowded streets of Danang.
This little market serves as a foil to the usual quiet of the small roads in Hoa Bac. In recent days the roads show a festive Tet atmosphere.
Ho Van Phan, a villager, said, “Vendors are very familiar with us. They often come here during Tet. We feel reassured when buying their clothes, and trust they are giving us a good price. And it’s better than navigating the streets of the city.”
Tran Thi Hanh, a vendor, said, “I have sold here for Tet three years in a row now. My mother did the same, and she came every year for 30 years. When she became ill, I took over the job.”
Concerning profits, another seller, Nguyen Ngoc Phuoc, said, “Co Tu people are so poor that we usually give them good deals. Sometimes we allow them to buy things on credit, or in exchange for rice and firewood.”
Though Tet doesn’t arrive for some days, the happy holiday atmosphere has already appeared in Hoa Bac.
Goods on their way to Hoa Bac
A little roadside sale
Co Tu people shop for new clothes for Tet
Friendly commerce
To buy or not to buy
