Articles Discovery on the cycling road Lifestyle A VISIT TO THE PICTURESQUE MARKET FROM DREAMY EYES By Mr Old Man Posted on May 11, 2025 7 min read 0 0 25 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on Reddit Share on Pinterest Share on Linkedin Share on Tumblr The Dreamy Eyes Craze In late 2019, the Vietnamese film Mắt Biếc (Dreamy Eyes), directed by Victor Vũ and adapted from the beloved novel by Nguyễn Nhật Ánh, hit cinemas and quickly became a cultural phenomenon—especially among fans of the original book. Soon after, a new travel trend took off: fans of the film began flocking to check in at the film’s dreamy locations, one of the most popular being the rustic Đo Đo Market in Bình Quế commune, Thăng Bình district, Quảng Nam. A Ride to Đo Đo – With a Twist Caught up in the trend, I decided to cycle out to Bình Quế—killing two birds with one stone: satisfying my cycling goals for the year while checking out this now-famous market. However, after chatting with locals, I learned a surprising truth: the picturesque market shown in Dreamy Eyes wasn’t the real Đo Đo Market in Bình Quế. Instead, the film crew had recreated the Đo Đo setting at Tây Giang Market in Bình Sa commune, where ancient banyan trees, a river landing, and a village temple provided the ideal 1960s rural backdrop. Even so, I had checked in at Đo Đo—and found out that today’s Đo Đo Market isn’t the same one Nguyễn Nhật Ánh once wrote about either. A Promise Made, A Promise Kept After pedaling over 130 km that day, I made a promise to myself: one day, under fair weather, I would ride out and check in at Tây Giang Market too. It took more than a year to fulfill that promise, but eventually, it happened. Return to the Past: Tây Giang Market It was just after 8 a.m. when my two cycling companions and I arrived at Tây Giang Market after nearly three hours of riding the coastal road from Đà Nẵng. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the market itself that left the strongest impression—but the people. The locals were exceptionally friendly, open, and welcoming. Despite the market being just a small village strip with a few houses, everyone greeted us with smiles. One family even brought out water, invited us to chat, and asked us to stay for lunch. A Living Memory with Mr. An Mr. Hoàng Tấn An (71), whose home lies less than 15 meters from Tây Giang Market, was preparing a New Year offering with his wife when he saw us arrive. He cheerfully came over, and as if reading our minds, began recounting the days when the film crew transformed the quiet market into a lively 1960s scene for Dreamy Eyes. According to Mr. An’s memories, Tây Giang used to be one of the busiest river markets in Thăng Bình, with boats lining the Trường Giang river and even a Chinese family who once traded local produce bound for Hội An. Though the market is no longer active, remnants still remain: a village temple, an old well, and a massive banyan tree that takes several people to embrace—all evidence of the once-bustling market’s legacy. Behind the Scenes of Dreamy Eyes “The Dreamy Eyes crew spent 20 days here filming. Lots of locals from Tây Giang and nearby villages were invited to be extras. The village, usually so quiet, turned festive every day as people came to watch the filming—it was like a local fair,” Mr. An recalled. “The market setup was exactly how it used to be—stall arrangements, old-style clothing, paddle boats on the river. Watching them film felt like being transported back to my childhood. It was truly emotional,” he added. When the Crowd Came Calling Mr. An’s wife, Mrs. Trương Thị Hảo, shared her memories too: “For months after the movie was released, young people kept coming in groups to take pictures and film from morning till night. The market suddenly became lively again.” When asked if the influx of visitors ever felt overwhelming, she smiled, “Not at all. It was joyful. Honestly, now that no one comes anymore, we miss them.” Mr. Old Man, February 2021