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From June 17th to 22nd, the second "On the Wharf, Under the Boat" Fruit Week will take place in Ho Chi Minh City. Expanding on the "On the Wharf, Under the Boat" tradition at the beginning of each year with the spring flower market, this fruit week is organized by transporting fruit from boats and displaying it for sale right at Binh Dong Wharf.
Fruit Week features over 100 stalls offering a wide variety of local fruits.
The event attracted over 100 stalls, including more than 10 special stalls constructed from bamboo and rattan, creating a unique display space to showcase specialty products from Vinh Long, Ben Tre, and Dong Thap provinces. Among them, popular fruits of the Mekong Delta such as durian, mango, plum, guava, and longan were all on display.
In addition, there are stalls selling traditional cakes from the Southwestern region of Vietnam.
More than just a place to display and sell fruit, this fruit week has become an exciting market, bringing together many special and creative activities. The stalls not only showcase the art of arranging fruit platters and creating animal figures from fruit, but also organize many fun folk games such as making clay figurines, wrapping and cooking sticky rice cakes wrapped in bamboo leaves, and creating artistic balloon sculptures. The festival becomes even more vibrant when people wear traditional costumes such as the "áo bà ba" (traditional Vietnamese blouse), conical hats, or "áo dài" (traditional Vietnamese dress).
Tourists and shoppers wore traditional Vietnamese "áo bà ba" outfits.
Visitors not only come to buy fresh fruits and admire the specialties of the Mekong Delta, but they are also very interested in asking vendors and artisans questions to learn more about the cultural values of their country.
Ms. Vu Thi Ngoc (32 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) said that although she has lived in the city since childhood, she doesn't know much about the culture of Southern and Southwestern Vietnam. "Festivals or events like this not only stimulate tourism in the city, but also help locals and tourists understand more about regional culture. Practical activities will be the most concrete and memorable lessons," Ms. Ngoc said.
The fruit stalls were decorated quite attractively.
Joining the bustling crowds amidst the fruit stalls, Myra (an Indian tourist) expressed her excitement as this was her first time participating in a festival in Vietnam: "I know this is just a small event recreating ancient culture, but witnessing the joyful, crowded scene of buyers and sellers along the river like this is truly special, especially seeing the traditional costumes of the Vietnamese people, it's wonderful."
In addition, there are also snack stalls.
Binh Dong Wharf, located along the Tau Hu Canal, has existed since the 19th century and has become a vibrant and bustling place with the coming and going of boats and ships engaged in trade and commerce in the Saigon-Chợ Lớn area. "Therefore, the distinctive cultural value of this area is the image of 'boats on the wharf, ships below,' deeply rooted in the Southern Vietnamese character," shared Mr. Nguyen Viet Sang (76 years old, Ho Chi Minh City).
In his book "History of Land Reclamation in Southern Vietnam," writer Son Nam also described: "The river is deep and wide, with boats and ships moored for 10 miles. Following the ebb and flow of the tides, boats and ships sail back and forth, rowing and singing, bustling day and night, making it a convenient hub for transportation in all directions." Boats and ships are not only means of transportation and goods delivery, but also homes for the people. Life on the river, on the boats, and the hustle and bustle of the docks have become an indispensable part of the distinctive culture of Southern and Southwestern Vietnam. It is not just a scene of boats and ships on the docks, but also a part of the essence of national culture. Therefore, the "On the Docks, Under the Boats" fruit week is not just an event about fruit, but also a forum to recreate that distinctive culture, offering participants and tourists experiences that are both familiar and new.
Ms. Ngoc Chau, owner of Tam Ngoc garden, brought more than 62 varieties of unique and exotic fruits, attracting many visitors to her booth.
Besides promoting and introducing Southern Vietnamese garden fruits and stimulating demand, the organizers also hope to contribute to introducing the unique "On the Wharf, Under the Boat" culture of District 8 to the people and tourists, gradually elevating its scale to become a traditional "On the Wharf, Under the Boat" Fruit Festival and one of the city's cultural festival events.
