Market atop mountain in southern Vietnam offers unique shopping experience above clouds

Cam Mountain, located in Nui Cam Commune, An Giang Province, has become an increasingly popular tourist destination.

In addition to exploring fruit gardens featuring strawberries, durians, custard apples, and other produce, hunting for clouds, and visiting the giant Maitreya Buddha statue, visitors can also enjoy food and shop for local mountain products at the market located on the mountaintop.

“Cam Mountain is an interesting destination with many attractions, especially the cloud market on the summit," said Nguyen Van Xuyen, a visitor from Ho Chi Minh City.

“The market reflects the culture of people in the Mekong Delta.

"Local residents bring bundles of wild vegetables and fresh fruits here to sell. 

"My favorite dish is banh xeo (Vietnamese sizzling crepes) served with wild vegetables from the mountain."

Dang Van Si, chairman of the Bay Nui Tourism Association in An Giang, said Cam Mountain stands more than 700 meters above sea level and enjoys a favorable location surrounded by mountains, forests, and natural streams.

According to Si, the mountain has a distinctive charm because it is home to a sizable resident community, creating a unique local culture centered around the cloud market, which sits high above the surrounding landscape and is often enveloped in mist and clouds.

The market opens early in the morning and offers a variety of products unique to Cam Mountain, including fruits such as strawberries, durians, and mangosteens, as well as kohlrabi, wild bamboo shoots, and many local dishes.

One of the most popular foods is banh xeo served with wild mountain vegetables.

Most vendors at the market are local residents. As a result, products are not only fresh but also sold at affordable prices.

According to Si, the market’s appeal comes from the simple, friendly, and hospitable manner of the local people.

From July to September each year, the cloud market enters its most beautiful season. 

During this period, the market is often immersed in a sea of clouds and cool air, creating a scene that many visitors find captivating.

“The cloud market is well organized into different sections. Visitors often take time to stroll through the market, purchase local specialties and mountain fruits to enjoy on-site, or bring them home as gifts for family and friends,” Si said.