1. Cho Vui-Fest– the new "soul" of Sun Urban City
View of Cho Vui-Fest from above (Image: collected)
Every weekend, the Festival Park Square in the center of Sun Urban City transforms into a vibrant culinary street when Cho Vui-Fest officially opens – a destination attracting a large number of locals and tourists from near and far. The large space with the modern design of this urban area creates an ideal setting for a night market with a Western feel while still retaining the Vietnamese soul. The neatly arranged rows of stalls, with their glittering lights, create a warm and friendly atmosphere in the heart of Phu Ly city.
The special feature that makes this night market so attractive lies not in its scale, but in the subtle harmony between tradition and modernity. Visitors can enjoy delicious local specialties, while also enjoying lively music performances from small stages located throughout the area.
1.1 How to get to Cho Vui-Fest most conveniently
Cho Vui-Fest is located in the heart of Sun Urban City – a modern, new urban area of Ha Nam Ward (Ninh Binh). This location makes it convenient to travel from many directions, especially from Hanoi. It only takes about an hour's drive if you start from the inner city and follow the Phap Van – Cau Gie expressway, then turn onto National Highway 21B to reach the urban area.
For those who choose public transport, interprovincial bus number 206 from Giap Bat bus station to Phu Ly operates regularly every day. The ticket price ranges from 30,000 to 50,000 VND, and the travel time is about more than an hour. When you arrive at Phu Ly bus station, you can take a motorbike taxi or taxi to Sun Urban City at a cost ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 VND. The area around the square has a large parking lot, with parking fees clearly posted.
1.2 When does Cho Vui-Fest take place? What's special about it?
Cho Vui-Fest operates weekly on Friday and Saturday evenings, from 6 pm to 10:30 pm. The operating time is chosen to allow residents and tourists to visit after work and school.
The highlight that creates a unique impression of the market is the high-altitude fireworks display on Friday and Saturday evenings, lasting until 2/9/2025. At the Festival Park Square in Sun Urban City – a large open space in the center of the urban area – fireworks will be launched from 8:30 PM to 8:45 PM, lasting 15 minutes. In that moment, the Festival Park Square becomes vibrant, creating a vivid night scene, evoking many emotions in the hearts of viewers.
Not only for entertainment, Vui-Fest Market also contributes to shaping a modern urban lifestyle, where cultural values are preserved and recreated in a new, attractive, and more accessible way for the public.
2. Notable entertainment activities at Vui-Fest
Notable entertainment activities at Vui-Fest Ha Nam
Music and art performances are essential elements that create the vibrant atmosphere of Vui-Fest Market. In the middle of the square, a large outdoor stage with a modern sound and lighting system is where live performances from young bands and local artists take place. Whether it's familiar folk melodies or trendy pop songs loved by young people, the music at Vui-Fest always has a wide appeal, making it easy for listeners to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere.
Besides the central stage, folk and modern game areas are scattered around the square. Adults can rediscover childhood memories through folk games while children enjoy the modern interactive area and creative corners like ball houses and coloring. The check-in space is also meticulously invested in with photo spots inspired by street art – street art with a unique imprint of Ha Nam (Ninh Binh) becoming a favorite stop for young people.
2.1 Feast your eyes on the water music and high-altitude fireworks at the Vui-Fest night market
One of the most impressive moments at Vui-Fest takes place on the evenings of the market – when the entire Festival Park Square becomes a grand stage for light shows. The combination of water music and artistic fireworks offers a captivating visual and auditory experience.
The modernly designed fountain system is capable of moving to the rhythm of the music, creating vivid "water dances" against a backdrop of continuously changing lights. Immediately after this performance is the time when fireworks are launched into the sky – lasting about 15 minutes from 8:30 PM to 8:45 PM. The fireworks displays are meticulously arranged, combining low-altitude and high-altitude effects, creating a vibrant artistic space suitable for families, young groups, or couples visiting the market.
Carefully selected background music, combining orchestral and traditional music, evokes deep emotions and elevates the festival experience.
2.2 Other Exciting Entertainment Activities
Beyond the main highlights, Cho Vui-Fest offers many surprises through interactive activities for both children and adults. The children's play area is designed for safety with careful supervision, suitable for children aged 3 to 12. Games such as bouncy houses, mini electric cars, and creative coloring areas always attract the enthusiasm of young children. The participation fee is reasonable, ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 VND depending on the type, making it easy for families to experience without worrying too much about the cost.
In addition, street performances take place continuously throughout the evening. Street artists with fire dancing, traditional musical instrument performances, acrobatics, or magic shows have created an open, friendly, and inspiring performance space. This interactive space creates closeness and friendliness, allowing everyone to participate and cheer.
3. A Unique Culinary Paradise in Ha Nam (Ninh Binh)
A unique culinary paradise at Cho Vui-Fest (Image: collected)
Cuisine is the soul of Cho Vui-Fest with dozens of diverse food stalls, from local specialties to international cuisine. Phu Ly Banh Cuon - the most famous specialty of Ha Nam (Ninh Binh) - is prepared on the spot with thin rice paper, fragrant minced meat filling, and a rich sweet and sour fish sauce. Ca Kho Lang Vu Dai is presented in earthenware pots, the firm and sweet fish meat is soaked in palm sugar caramel, served with hot white rice and crunchy pickled vegetables.
Binh Luc Mam Cay - a unique specialty with a characteristic sour and spicy taste, is often served with grilled rice paper or shrimp crackers. Bun Ca Ro Dong - a rustic dish but with a strong hometown flavor with clear broth, fresh and sweet snakehead fish, and natural forest vegetables. Besides traditional specialties, the market also has BBQ dishes, banh mi sandwiches, grilled fish cakes wrapped in banana leaves, and refreshing milk tea and fresh juices to serve a variety of tastes.
4. Shopping and Souvenir Stalls
Food and souvenir stalls (Image: collected)
The shopping corner at Chợ Vui-Fest is a gathering place for exquisite handicrafts, bearing a strong local imprint. Most notable are the handcrafted handbags, leather wallets, and accessories made from local cowhide, priced from 150,000 to 500,000 VND depending on size and finish.
The dried specialty food area is popular with conveniently packaged products: Binh Luc fish sauce, 35,000 VND per box; Ha Nam dried fish cake, 80,000 VND/kg; mung bean cakes, and traditional peanut candies, from 20,000 to 40,000 VND/box.
In addition, the local fashion stall offers affordable products such as T-shirts printed with images of Ha Nam (Ninh Binh) landmarks, baseball caps, and accessories, priced from 80,000 to 200,000 VND. The youthful designs, stable quality, and reasonable prices make this a bustling place for visitors to stop by and shop.
5. Tips for a complete Vui-Fest night market experience
Entertainment activities at Chợ Vui-Fest
To fully experience Chợ Vui-Fest, you should prepare a detailed and flexible plan. Check the weather before you go, choose comfortable clothes and easy-to-walk-in shoes, as you will spend most of your time walking around the open space of the square.
Bringing a tote bag or small backpack will be very convenient for shopping, along with a bottle of water to stay hydrated during the long evening. Many stalls do not yet support electronic payments, so small denomination cash will make eating and shopping more convenient. A reasonable budget for one person is around 300,000 – 500,000 VND, enough to enjoy food, play games, and buy a few small souvenirs to take home without having to worry too much about the cost.
5.1 The best time to experience the vibrant atmosphere
From 7 PM onwards is the ideal time to arrive at Cho Vui-Fest to fully enjoy the lively atmosphere. By then, the food stalls will have prepared a full range of fresh, delicious food and will not yet be sold out. Most importantly, you will have ample time to enjoy the food, participate in entertainment activities, and choose a good spot to watch the fireworks at 9:15 PM.
The period from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM is when the market is most crowded and lively, with vibrant music, cheerful laughter, and the aroma of food filling the air. If you want to avoid the crowds, you can arrive earlier at 6:30 PM to explore the stalls more comfortably.
5.2 Things to know to avoid missing out on any experience
Check out the local specialties beforehand, such as Phu Ly Banh Cuon or Vu Dai Village braised fish – these dishes often sell out early on busy days. It's advisable to bring small denomination cash for easier shopping and dining, as many stalls do not yet support electronic payments.
Bring a fully charged phone and a power bank to capture the stunning moments under the lights. The central stage areas and the water music square offer the best lighting for photos between 8 PM and 8:30 PM.
Cho Vui-Fest is not only a place to enjoy food but also part of a journey to discover the vibrant living space at Sun Urban City. Combining an experience at Sun World Ha Nam during the day with the Vui-Fest night market in the evening will make for a perfect, emotional, and memorable weekend trip.
