This is the most special market in Vietnam, where gemstones are displayed on bamboo baskets like vegetables.

The market for gemstones has been held in Yen The town, Luc Yen district, in the

northern province of Yen Bai for a very long time and it has remained unchanged.

Local people bring gemstones that they have mined to sell.

Though the goods are very expensive, they are displayed on bamboo baskets

like this. Sellers are not afraid of losing their gems.

A gemstone trader tests a ruby.

Crushed ruby is sold in kilo to make gemstone paintings.

Processed gemstones are very expensive, from tens to hundreds of million dong/piece.

The market is open for around 2 hours in the morning.

A specialized lamp is used to examine gemstones.

This market has been operating for several decades but it has not changed transaction rules.

PV