Hue city, which was the ancient capital city under the Nguyen Dynasty, is well-known for the heaven of cuisines. On the trip to Hue, you can get most of its delicious dishes with high-quality standards at the Hue conventional food markets. Noticeably, Dong Ba Market is the most outstanding one, and it would be a pity if you miss this 100-year-old market.
1. Where is the Dong Ba Market?
This greatest and biggest commercial market in Hue city lies on the Northside of Perfume and west-south of Hue Citadel. To be specific, it’s on at 13 Tran Hung Dao Street that you can visit easily. Therefore, you can totally walk there if you stay in Khu Pho Tay (the Western Quarter) or they can join in Hue street food tour.
2. Why Dong Ba Market worth discovering?
2.1. Variety of things to buy
Dong Ba market Hue- Culture Pham Travel
The market opens early in the morning, from 4 am to 6 pm. However, at noon, sellers show their full goods from clothing, handicraft, local foods, refreshments or souvenirs. Thus, it is wiser to come here in the afternoon.
As known as the biggest and oldest market in Hue city. At the Dong Ba Market, you can find out all kinds of things you like even 25 USD Rolex.
2.2. Perfect place to learn how to bargain
At the Dong Ba Market, if you would like to buy something, you should bargain to get a better price. Normally, they will raise the price up to 50 percent or more so you should bargain. Sometimes, you should pretend walking away and they will call you back to sell it. The other way is: Do not buy a thing in the first place. there are many shops sell the same things so the price is kind of competitive. Ask for the price first and then at other shops you should bargain more. When you try to bargain, they will low the price a little and avoid bargaining in the morning since sellers believe that it is bad luck.
3. What to see at Dong Ba Market?
Dong Ba market- Hue- Culture Pham Travel
People say that Dong Ba Market is like a small world because you can buy anything here. Fascinating, the market is so massive that passengers can get lost or miss some amazing categories. So they need an appropriate start. To be specific, it consists of a 3-storeys house called "Lau Chuong". As a result, a tip for you is that you should start your itinerary by going straight to this building. When you reach the third floor, the heaven of fabric with various colours and types appears in front of you.
Going down on the 2nd and 1st floor, you will be keen on the skilled handicraft such as the conical hats, paper flowers, gold shops. The next goods are sophisticated things like ceramic or gorgeous stone bracelets.
Furthermore, on the first floor, the dry souvenirs such as seafood, fragrant sauce, seasonings are always on the top choice. The reason for that is everyone can not forget its taste once they enjoyed it.
4. What to eat at Dong Ba?
Dong Ba is the heaven of great street foods. There are various local specialities here. They all so delicious that made Antony Boudain come to taste Bun Bo (noodle soup with beef), and Bun Hen (mixed noodle with small mussels) here.
There are some specialities that you must taste here:
Bun Bo Hue is the leading name in every Hue food market because it had been making Hue’s label. This popular dish consists of the rice vermicelli with the sliced beef. With 15000 VND you can enjoy a delicious boodle beef bowl.
Hue street food at Dong Ba- Culture Pham Travel
Com Hen has been one of the most famous dishes that you should never miss. Specifically, it comprises the tiny mussels, milled chilli, ginger, sour star fruit, white sesame, peanuts, mint leaves, pennywort, dried shrimp, fresh bean sprouts, and fish sauce.
Vietnamese rice pancakes- Banh Khoai
Banh Khoai: People fry this yellow crepe from rice flour fried until it is crispy. Besides it, pork shrimp and egg are three other important elements of this rustic food.
BBQ at Dong Ba Market
Hue Barbecue: In fact, this cuisine of Hue food market includes the peanut dates, aromatic garlic and a little taste of soy sauce noodles. With 15000-20000 VND, tourists can be full of this delicious dish.
Sweet soup at the market
Che (sweet soup): The most special thing is that Che Hue has more than 36 kinds with different forms, colours, thickness, and tastes. Additionally, people cook it with many stages and diverse ingredients like fruits, stocky rice flour, cereals, cassava flour, and sugar.
5. How to get there and what should you know?
The market is quite close to the Hue city center so easily you can walk there. Other options are taking a cyclo to enjoy the city traffic. To be more informative and fully spend time in Hue, you should book a Hue private City Tour or Deluxe Group Tour at Culture Pham Travel.
As you know it is a big market and very crowed so you should take care of your belongings carefully.