Đông Ba Market

Đông Ba Market
Chợ Đông Ba
Main entrance to the Đông Ba Market as of 2024
Map
General information
StatusIn use
TypeTraditional market
AddressTrần Hưng Đạo Road
Town or cityHuế, Thừa Thiên Huế province
CountryVietnam
Coordinates16°28′21″N 107°35′19″E / 16.472622°N 107.588501°E / 16.472622; 107.588501 (Đông Ba Market)
Inaugurated1899; 125 years ago (1899)

Đông Ba Market (Vietnamese: Chợ Đông Ba) is a traditional market in Huế, Vietnam. With a history of more than a hundred years, the market became a landmark of the former capital city of Vietnam.[1][2]

Location

Đông Ba Market is located on the Perfume River's north bank, near the southeast corner of the citadel.[3] It has a total area of 47,614 square metres (512,510 sq ft).[4][5]

History

According to Đại Nam nhất thống chí, under the reign of Emperor Gia Long, the market was located right outside of the Eastern Gate of the citadel. A roofed house called đình Quy Giả was built at the center of the market so the market itself was also known as "Quy Giả market". In 1885, the market was completely burnt down in the Battle of the Huế Imperial City. It was not until 1887 did Emperor Đồng Khánh have the market rebuilt.[6][7]

In 1899, as part of Huế city's urban planning, Emperor Thành Thái ordered the reconstruction of the market at its current location, then situated on Truong Tien Road.[8] The new market had 48 roofed stalls. A well was also built inside the market for water supply. The site of the old market outside of the Eastern Gate was later occupied by a Franco-Vietnamese school, which Nguyễn Tất Thành used to attend.[6][7]

In 1967, Đông Ba Market was demolished and rebuilt. However, the incomplete construction site was targeted in the Tet Offensive.[7] Temporary renovations have been done afterward to keep the market operating. A major renovation of the market did not take place until 1987.[9]

Commerce

Various goods sold in the Đông Ba Market in 2024)

Đông Ba Market is a popular local market and is, therefore, usually crowded. It sells a variety of goods, from fresh produce and fish to clothing, toys, shoes, and handicrafts. The market is busiest in the early morning, even though it is open all day.[3]

References

  1. ^ Trần, Nguyên; Triệu, Phong (9 June 2009). "Huế: chợ Đông Ba kỷ niệm 110 năm xây dựng và phát triển". Tuổi Trẻ Online (in Vietnamese).
  2. ^ Nguyễn, Tuấn (23 August 2022). "Thừa Thiên Huế: Nâng cấp, chỉnh trang chợ Đông Ba cần lấy tiểu thương làm gốc". Báo Công Thương (in Vietnamese).
  3. ^ a b DK Eyewitness (2019). DK Eyewitness Vietnam. DK Publishing. p. 146.
  4. ^ "Chợ Đông Ba". Cơ sở dữ liệu Du lịch Việt Nam (in Vietnamese).
  5. ^ "Dong Ba market". Portal of Thua Thien Hue province. 7 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b Đại Nam nhất thống chí – Thừa Thiên phủ (in Vietnamese). Nha Văn hóa. 1961. pp. 135–136.
  7. ^ a b c "Sự ra đời và sinh hoạt của chợ Đông Ba". Huế xưa & nay (in Vietnamese). Hội sử học Thừa Thiên Huế. 2009.
  8. ^ "Wednesday May 15, 2019". VOVWorld. 18 May 2019.
  9. ^ Ngô, Minh Khôi (2000). Văn hóa kinh doanh thời đổi mới: Những bài báo và phóng sự chọn lọc (in Vietnamese). Nhà xuất bản Thuận Hóa. p. 89.