Floating market carries Tet spirit in Vietnam’s rural south

By Nguyen Chi Nam February 12, 2018 | 08:34 pm PT

Fresh pork, watermelons and golden chrysanthemums are not glamorous, they’re essential.

The Nga Nam Market is 60 kilometers (37 miles) to the west of the provinces capital town and where one can find must-have items for Lunar New Year (Tet) celebration in the rural south. The market usually gathers in the morning but stays open from dawn to dusk during one week ahead of the holiday which peaks this Friday.

Nga Nam Market is 60 kilometers (37 miles) to the west of the provincial capital, selling the must-have items for Lunar New Year (Tet) celebrations in the rural south. The market is open from dawn to dusk for the week leading up to the holiday, which peaks this Friday.

A boat carries baskets of chrysanthemums at the market filled with water hyacinth. Southern Vietnamese love yellow for the Lunar New Year. The bright yellow ochna blossoms are usually the staple, but they are happy with any cheaper options.

A boat carries baskets of chrysanthemums to the market. Southern Vietnamese love the color yellow for the Lunar New Year. The bright ochna blossoms are a usual favorite, but most people are happy with cheaper options.

A boat is full of watermelons. The fruit is much more common now than it was couple decades ago, but is still one that most families want to have for the altar on the holiday. It is associated with a legend story in which a Vietnamese family on a deserted island received birds help to plant watermelons and survived for years just by eating them.

A boat full of watermelons. The fruit is more common now than it was a couple of decades ago, and is still a must for family altars on the holiday. Watermelons are associated with a legend that tells of a Vietnamese family stuck on a deserted island who received help from birds to plant watermelons, which they survived on for years.

A boat hangs roots to advertise its merchandise.

Various goods hang from a boat to advertise its merchandise.

A woman sells pork next to a boat of cabbage and red chili. Braised pork with eggs (thit kho tau) is a popular Tet dish in southern Vietnam.

A woman sells pork next to a boat full of cabbages and red chili. Braised pork with eggs (thit kho tau) is a popular Tet dish in southern Vietnam.