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Despite cold and rainy weather, thousands of people still set out for Cho Vieng, a market held once every year in Nam Dinh Province, to bring about fortune for the whole year.

There are two Vieng markets. One opens near to the Day Palace in the northern province of Nam Dinh, Vu Ban District, while another is held at Bi Pagoda in Nam Truc District.

Both markets last from the evening of January 7 through the morning of January 8 of the lunar calendar. The market trade in antiques, ornamental trees and tools for agriculture.

At 7pm on the evening of Lunar January 7, Tran Huy Lieu Road, the main path to the Vieng market in Vu Ban District was greatly crowded by people and vehicles from different localities like Hanoi, Hai Phong and Thai Binh.

“People go to Cho Vieng mainly for pleasure. They buy simple goods at the market to bring good luck to their families. Both sellers and buyers hope that they will have good fortune as a result,” said Nguyen Van Vinh, a local from Nam Dinh City.

The outstanding quality of the market is that either buyers or sellers do not care much about prices.

Photos taken from Cho Vieng:

Walking through rain for Cho Vieng

Flowers and ornamental trees drew great attention

Young people at Cho Vieng out of curiosity

Ornamental trees

Colourful flowers at night

Impressed by ‘strange’ jackfruit tree

Careful selection

Many buy farm tools

Many farm tools on display

‘Lucky money’ for sale

Antique pottery

Trying to play traditional musical instruments

Buying beef

Bringing ‘fortune’ home

Some of the games at the market