It’s often said the Con Market in Da Nang is a foodie heaven.

The Con Market is not only a place for buying and selling but also a heaven for foodies.

Located in the centre of Da Nang, the three storey market faces Quang Trung and Ong Ich Khiem streets. Visitors find it very easy to access this inviting place. It’s open from 6am till around 7.30pm.

Like other traditional markets, this is where you find a variety of  fare – fresh fruit, dried seafood, and clothes to name but a few.

It is not merely a place for buyers and sellers but also a favourite spot of visitors who want to try a local dish, and explore lives of the locals.

Life here is always bustling.

The late writer Thanh Tinh once said: “When one travels to a new place, they should look for the local market. It is the place that shows you not only the economy but also a cultural slice of local residents.”

While Ha Noi is well-known for its Dong Xuan Market, HCM City with Ben Thanh, Da Nang is all about Con.

Those old enough to remember will regale you with tales of how before the market came into existence, the area was an abandoned sand dune with wild cactus and beefwood trees.

In the wartime, it was the place where the French colonialists punished Vietnamese soldiers to warn other locals. Later, the area became a place to buy and sell. In 1950s and 1960s, the market was surrounded by fancy shops selling jewelry, coffee, and groceries.

With a petroleum station and two major bus stations nearby, the Con Market soon became a busy trading place for both locals and residents of other provinces.

The Van Hoa (Culture) Book Store, Xuong café house, Ong Ty’s 'banh my' shop, or Thai Ngu’s 'pho' shop were all the familiar and nostalgic names for local people.

Nowadays, it’s the place where one can try almost all delicacies of Da Nang and other regions at affordable prices: 'bun thit nuong' (noodle with grilled pork), 'bun mam' (fresh rice noodle served in broth with shrimps and herbs), 'my quang' (Quang Nam-based rice noodle), snails, 'banh xeo' (sizzling crepe with shrimp and pork filling), 'banh can' (little round pancake made of rice flour, eggs and shrimp and served with dipping sauce and herbs), 'goi kho bo' (salad with dried beef). Each dish ranges from 15,000 to 50,000 VND.

(Source: VNS/ DA NANG Today)