Ha Nam Livestock – Poultry Market, also known as Binh Luc Pig Market, has been dubbed the most famous pig trading market in Vietnam for years. Initially a collection of small, informal pig stalls, the market was later planned and developed into a concentrated, wholesale market located in the middle of a vast rice paddy, specifically in Phu Da Village, Boi Cau Commune, Binh Luc District, Ha Nam Province.
Entrance to the wholesale market – Photo: Thuy Giang
The area was initially a poor, flooded rice cultivation area, where people primarily relied on rice farming and animal husbandry for a living. When pig farming began to flourish, the increasing demand for pork led to the establishment of an informal pig trading market along a stretch of the inter-district road, starting from Ho Bridge in Trung Luong Commune and extending to Boi Cau Commune via An Noi Commune.
However, the market’s activities began encroaching on traffic safety corridors, causing frequent congestion, security and order issues, and environmental pollution. To address this situation, the Ha Nam Provincial People’s Committee approved a plan to construct a concentrated livestock and poultry wholesale market in Boi Cau Commune, thereby bringing the informal pig farming households into a centralized trading hub.
At the wholesale market, pigs are scientifically confined to pens, facilitating smooth trading – Photo: Thuy Giang
Officially operating since 2013, Binh Luc Wholesale Pig Market currently spans an area of over 12,000 square meters, housing three rows of pig enclosures, each comprising 41 individual pens. The market’s sizable investment and meticulous operational structure ensure smooth trading and circulation of goods while maintaining environmental hygiene.
Hundreds of large and small trucks carrying pigs enter and leave the wholesale market daily – Photo: Thuy Giang
From 5 a.m. daily, vendors at the market begin acquiring pigs from far and wide for trading. Trucks carrying pigs arrive from various regions, with transactions taking place throughout the day. The busiest hours fall between 7 and 9 a.m., with traders arriving early to secure the best pigs and have them stamped. The pigs sourced for the market predominantly originate from Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Hung Yen, Hai Phong, and neighboring provinces.
Lively pig trading sessions from early morning – Photo: Thuy Giang
The Management Board of Binh Luc Wholesale Pig Market reports that the daily pig trading volume reaches thousands of pigs, with a minimum of 2,000 pigs sold each day, each weighing approximately 80 to 150 kilograms. During peak trading days, the volume can surge to between 7,000 and 10,000 pigs.
Pigs supplied to the market have an average weight of 80 – 150 kg – Photo: Thuy Giang
According to the reporter’s findings, the pigs supplied to the market come primarily from farms owned by large corporations and conglomerates such as Truong Hai, Masan, Hoa Phat, and a small number from individual farming households. Following the 2019 African swine fever outbreak, the number of small-scale pig farming households plummeted by 80%, leaving only super-large farms housing thousands of pigs to meet market demand.
Many vendors at Binh Luc Wholesale Pig Market predict that the price of live pigs will continue to rise, especially during the upcoming 30/4 and 1/5 holidays – Photo: Thuy Giang
Mr. Le Van Tho, a vendor at the Wholesale Pig Market, shared that the price of pigs has been steadily increasing since the beginning of April 2024. The current trading price at the market ranges between VND 60,000 and VND 64,000 per kilogram and is likely to continue rising as the 30/4 and 1/5 holidays approach.
Daily trading activities in full swing at Binh Luc Wholesale Pig Market:
