Sunday, October 25, 2009

Outdoor Market (AKA "Asian Market")




Background:
Many people don’t realize that the Czech Republic has a substantial Vietnamese population, in fact, the Czech Statistics Office estimated that there were 60,258 Vietnamese residing in the Czech Republic in 2008. They migrated to CZ during the Communist period, when they were invited as guest workers by the Czechoslovakian government. Migration was encouraged by the Vietnamese authorities, with the intention that the migrants would return with skills and training, but many decided to remain in the country rather than return home after the Velvet Revolution. This first generation of immigrants has traditionally made a living as vendors and hence many speak fluent Czech and run clothing shops or grocery stores within the city.

Little Hanoi
The main retail center for Prague’s Vietnamese community lies in the south of Prague. Called SAPA, after a northern Vietnamese tribe, this area offers a glimpse into an entirely different face of Prague. Sapa is a wholesale market where you can buy a lot of stuff (the majority of the items sold comes from Asia of course). Actually it’s like a town in a town.
As you enter the area, a welcoming message is inscribed in both Czech and Vietnamese. Here, you can try your hand at haggling but probably won't find the need (besides it hard to do in English) since most items are priced very cheap. An example is the winter jacket that I picked up for 1300 czk that would have cost 4000 czk in the mall. Current fashion jeans for 600czk would set you back about 1150 czk and up in town. You can get thing from seasonal items (Christmas decorations at this time of year), clothes, hand bags, men and women's suits, toys, shoes, ski suits, Asian swords...and the list can go on. If you would like to have an extraordinary experience and don’t mind traveling a bit from the town center, Sapa is definitely worth a visit.
I´m a big fan of Sapa especially because of the food market.
I like the Vietnamese groceries, where you can buy different ingredients for Asian cuisine that you cannot buy anywhere else (or they are way too expensive) – various vegetables and fruits, herbs, sauces, frozen prawns, fish, live crabs, tea, rice, tofu and much more…
Oh, and don't forget the cuisine! Besides checking the shops you should definitely eat there.
The criteria of a good place to eat are simple: eat where local people eat. Places which are oriented in one type of food are usually the strike home.
Address:
Libušská 319/126 | Praha 4
Hours:
09:00 – 20:00 daily
Directions:
Sapa, located in the south surround of Prague called Písnice. To get to SAPA, take the metro to Zelivskeho or Depo Hostivar, then take the 208 bus to the “Tiskarska” stop, which is only about 50 meters from the main entrance. You can park your car there if you are driving as well. Go in the main gate and park toward the back…might be a bit muddy in the parking lot if it is a rainy day

Helpful Hint
1. Bring cash, Czech Crowns only, small bills. Everything is an even number, eg.100 czk, 200 czk...rarely 230 czk for example. They talk to eachother so don't flash your cash and don't be a pushover. Word will travel fast with both.
When discussing price,
2. Have a price in mind as to how much you would have paid in the mall; if it is too much, move on. Resist the feeling that you are required to buy it just because you asked about the price.
3. Learn how to ask about the price and practice it before hand. Learn the phrases:
How much for one? "Kolik stojí jeden?" pronouced "Ko-lick Stoy yedin" or
What is the price for one? Jaká je cena za jeden? pronounced "Yawka ye sena zaw yeden?"
They will probably rattle off the price in an undistinguishable amount so ask them to, "Write it down, please." Napište to, prosím. pronounced Naw.pee.sh.tea toe, pro.see.m
4. They may have a calculator and will show you the price on that.
Remember that in CZ they demonstrate the number one with their thumb and not their index finger. They also show two with the thumb and index finger, three with thumb index, and middle finger and so on showing the back of their hand rather than the palm. Just cultural differences that my appear odd or rude to them if you do it the "American" or western way.
5. Be polite. When entering a store always say, Good day "Dobry Den" pronounced "Dough.brie Den" and when leaving say Thanks "děkuji!" Pronounced Deh.koo.yee. You or they may also reply, See you later! Na shledanou! Pronounced Nah sleh.dawn.oh

4 comments:

  1. So happy about your post. I read about SAPA in the Prague Post and it was on our list of places we were curious about. After reading your blog, it is definitely on our list of places to visit! Giving the address and hours and "how to get there" is really helpful! Sounds like a fabulous place to shop! Thanks!

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  2. We love the fresh markets here for the same reason. SAPA would be a little travel time for us

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  3. Kinda sounds like the Chinese Cultural Center here.

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  4. Sort of like the Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center, except that the one that I'm thinking of if Phoenix, AZ is upscale http://www.phxchinatown.com/ (Been there too and I love this one as well) and the one I've mentioned in this blog is more like an outdoor flea market...set up for wholesale, but open to the public as well. It is a great place to pick up bargains!

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