An unfamiliar market is invariably fun. Even more so when it's off the tourist trail and not often visited by foreigners. Some of the stallholders were looking at me with the same level of surprise I was exhibiting at their produce. We were all of us agog! The Mo market in Bach Mai Street is a relatively solid permanent structure from the outside, one section of its walls adorned with spectacular communist propaganda.On the morning of my excursion there, the sunlight was hitting the colourful 'message' at just the right angle.
Inside, the mostly covered space is illuminated with suspended single light bulbs - many of them those power-saving fluoro ones - and sharply angled beams of day through gaps in the very temporary 'jerry-rigged' ceiling. The merchants operate out of stalls banged together with odd bits of timber, a few clouts, lengths of twine and a square or two of tarp.
Interiors of markets all over this region are 'designed' in this same 'wet market architectural style', an inherent feature of which is bloody big fire hazard! And, even though the stallholders themselves would probably run around on fire to save their livelihood, there are already moves afoot to gradually demolish these retail dinosaurs to make way for the shiny chrome, glass and stainless steel supermarkets and food emporiums of other worlds. It won't be long before the whole world population is constantly attired in white coats and plastic gloves with identity tags dangling around our necks
Best get your fill of mad market action while you still can!
Mo market is not just a convenient fruit, veg, fish, butcher and flower shop. A lush selection of tropical plants, pottery products (including coffins!) from nearby Huong Canh village, bamboo and rattan goods, a rather depressing pet section and truckloads of flimsy Chinese shoes and garments are amongst the bargains on offer here.
In a fleeting whip around the fresh produce merchants, various rarities caught my eye. Just outside the market's southern gate on the footpath of Minh Khai Street, a shallow aluminium tray containing these pretty little orbs had been placed.
I know not what they are. Vegetable, fruit or Christmas tree decoration?
Mo Market
Cnr. Bach Mai & Minh Khai
Bach Mai District
They look like baby cashew fruits. Are they?
Posted by: Buddhist with an attitude | 06 December 2007 at 11:13 AM
Not sure, Buddhist. A friend of mine said something about a gooseberry, another something about a Chinese guava? Still not confirmed.
Posted by: Sticky | 07 December 2007 at 07:30 AM
No, it's not Bach Mai district. It's Hai Ba Trung district.
Posted by: t800t8 | 17 December 2007 at 01:15 PM
Speaking of markets, did you see this little item about the plan to replace 126 markets in Hanoi with malls? I ain't crapping you...
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/social/2007/11/753921/
Posted by: HanoiMark | 19 December 2007 at 11:50 PM
Yes - and that little piece fails to mention the fact that the kiosk owners are protesting vigorously about it over between the presidential palace and west lake.
Posted by: Sticky | 21 December 2007 at 07:39 AM
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Posted by: fbeg jgkyfwq | 20 February 2008 at 07:24 PM