Wandering through the old markets in Dubai.

Markets always reflect local culture and are the easiest place to learn about and immerse yourself in the lives of the local people.

Therefore, I didn't miss the opportunity to visit both traditional markets and large shopping malls when I had the chance to explore Dubai with Lien Bang Travelink. The Dubai - Abu Dhabi tour (4 days, departing November 8th) costs 29,799,000 VND.

In Dubai dialect, "souk" means market. On my first day in Dubai, I started right away with the Old Souk, which includes three famous markets: the Spice Souk and the Gold Souk located on one side of Dubai Creek; and the Textile Souk located on the other side of the creek.

Since the canals are located on both sides, and I wanted to go to the market conveniently, I followed the locals and used a rather unique mode of transport – the Abra water taxi – which was very cheap. In addition, there's also a service to rent Abra by the hour to explore Dubai and observe the daily life of the people along the canals.

In the early morning, the gold market wasn't too crowded, allowing for leisurely viewing of the creative jewelry masterpieces. The atmosphere was also special; not noisy, simply filled with the sweet smiles of the Arab men and the nimble hands arranging the hottest items at the front of the stalls.

Unlike many countries around the world, gold here is sold by the gram, with prices varying from store to store, and you can always bargain to get a better price. Buyers can rest assured that gold here is regulated by the government to ensure no counterfeit gold is sold. While exploring, I discovered something interesting: if you don't like buying gold at the market, you can buy it from a vending machine, just like withdrawing money from an ATM.

While Dubai is renowned for its trendy and luxurious architecture, its spice and fabric markets retain a classic charm. These markets are much like Hanoi's 36 streets – narrow lanes lined with numerous shops.

The spice market isn't exclusively for women; even men are drawn to the display of hundreds of spices in various colors and aromas, finding it hard to resist the urge to taste and try them, eventually weighing them. Immersing myself in the fabric market, I chose some beautiful pieces of cloth and enjoyed browsing the shops selling all kinds of scarves, traditional clothing, shoes, and more.

In Dubai's old market, there are also a few cheap and delicious eateries selling all sorts of unique local food. After wandering through the old market and enjoying traditional Dubai cuisine, what could be more enjoyable?

Contact: Lien Bang Travelink – 881 Tran Hung Dao Street, Ward 1, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City

Tel: (08) 38382288, website: www.lienbangtravel.com

The Thanh