While there is so much of this city that I have yet to see, I believe that the Vietnamese Market is thus far my favorite place.
While I was still at home I spent a lot of time researching things to see in the Czech Republic that weren't pertaining to my study. Seeing as how I was going to be here for three months I felt like I should find as many things of interest to check out while in country. I came across an article published by Vice Magazine about a Vietnamese Market located in the city and it posed to be a place of just the right amount of grittiness to peak my interest. Upon the first time going there it turned out to be exactly that.
Located on the outskirts of the city, the market sits on roughly 55 acres of land in a industrial/residential area between Prague 11 and Prague 12. The market is essentially composed of vast warehouses full of vendors selling a shotty version of almost anything you could possibly need. At the walls lining the market you'll find a series of grocery stores offering strange produce, meat sitting out in the open air and live animals from carp to rabbits (presumably for eating.), stores offering services such as cellphone plans, western unions and travel agencies and some very delicious, traditional Vietnamese restaurants. In fact I believe that Anthony Bourdain came to this market to eat on an episode of No Reservations.
This market is apparently the largest distributor for all of the smaller SAPA markets like it in this region of Europe. Upfront, things at the market may seem some what shady, with signs prohibiting the use of cameras, most the employees gambling during their downtime and a lingering smell that is unrecognizable. All of that, in my mind, only makes this place more intriguing and most certainly a diverse aspect of Prague.
A sculpture of a serene mountain, complete with pagodas, lions, monks and apparently constructed out of snot.
I couldn't read the sign on this rabbits cage but I will trust my assumptions.
A pool that a week before was so full of carp you could not see the bottom.
My roommates behind some manikins.
An unsuccessful attempt to sneak a shot of these men gambling on a card game.
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