VietNamNet Bridge – With nearly 60,000 likes on its Facebook page, Saigon Flea Market (SFM) in HCMC’s District 7 has become a popular rendezvous on second and forth Sundays of month to many locals and foreigners who wish to find hand-made artworks, accessories and fashion items. The founder of this market is Moon Doan or Doan Thu Hang, a 26-year-old who has traveled a lot and brought this unique market concept to Vietnam.

Moon Doan or Doan Thu Hang, founder of Saigon Flea Market - Photo: Courtesy of Moon Doan.

Born into a family with dad as a policeman and mom as a teacher, Hang studied law but has a great passion for fashion. The initiative of setting up the market came up when Hang was a child accompanying her mom to a flea market in her hometown, the northern province of Hung Yen. Growing up with a childhood dream and learning from newspapers and the Internet, Hang decided to travel abroad to understand more about the operation of a real flea market.

Instead of opening a market selling old or precious stuffs like the original version, Hang turned it into a place offering hand-made works by local and foreign artists or some online shops or small businesses that wish to introduce their related products to customers. From a new concept that didn’t appeal to many people, Saigon Flea Market has grown to a bimonthly event with around 80 booths. She often refuses a hundred of registrations each time so as to choose the most suitable products.

“SFM is not only a place for craft artisans to share their passion but also a place where shopaholics and fashion lovers come and exchange their styles and ideas,” said Hang.

“Furthermore, the market is where I want to promote ‘made in Vietnam’ products by local artists and designers to foreign customers.”

With a rent ranging from VND650,000 to VND800,000 a booth, vendors can use a booth from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to display and sell products. Transparent accessories, leather wares, wooden furnishing items, sedge bags and on-trend clothes are among unique features at this market.

A vendor sells cute plaster statues. Customers can bring their photos and ask the vendor to make statues of themselves.

Before Saigon Flea Market came into being, the young fashion blogger and her team also created “Garage Sale” events in Hanoi where fashionistas gathered to trade or swap their old stuffs. Those who haven’t visited SFM should attend its next events on April 13 and 27.

SFM is located at level 1, Boomarang Bistro Restaurant, 107 Ton Dat Tien Street, Phu My Hung Urban Zone, District7, HCMC. For further information, access the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/saigon.flea.market.

Source: SGT