“Phiên Chợ Đông” Trend: Vietnamese Folk Poems Become Social Hit

If you’re an expat, a curious traveler, or someone exploring global internet culture, you might’ve recently come across a puzzling phrase repeated across Vietnamese TikTok and Facebook: “Phiên Chợ Đông”—which literally translates to “the winter market.”

While it might sound like a seasonal farmer’s market, this is actually Vietnam’s hottest Gen Z meme format in April 2025. It has nothing to do with actual markets—and everything to do with poetic shade, hilarious storytelling, and online drama. 

What is the “Phiên Chợ Đông” trend?

This trend originated from a Vietnamese folk couplet:

“Phiên chợ đông con cá hồng anh chê nhạt –
Phiên chợ tàn con cá bạc anh lại khen ngon.”

Literal meaning:

At the crowded market, he found the red fish bland –
But at closing time, the silver fish suddenly tasted great.

Cultural context:

It’s an old metaphor describing human fickleness—how someone may dismiss what’s available or easy to get, only to regret it when it’s gone. Think of it like: “You didn’t want me when I was here, but now I’m gone, I’m suddenly your favorite?”

Gen Z in Vietnam has turned this old-school proverb into a template for memes and poetry-like roasts that reflect modern life: failed crushes, job drama, online shopping regrets, and more.

What’s the structure of these memes?

The structure is simple and consistent:

• Line 1: Starts with “Phiên chợ đông…”, then describes a poetic market-related event.

• Line 2: Delivers the plot twist, punchline, or emotional twist.

Examples:

• “Phiên chợ đông em mua nhầm trái ổi / Về nhà làm không nổi sếp dí cho thôi.”
  → (At the market I bought the wrong guava / Back home, couldn’t work, boss pushed me—so I quit.)

• “Phiên chợ tình em mua cành hoa dại / Crush bảo đẹp zai nhưng mà failed.”
  → (At the love market I bought a wildflower / Crush said I’m cute, but still rejected me.)

It’s part folk-poetry, part meme, part venting—and totally Gen Z.

Why did it become so popular?

In Vietnam, online trends spread fast through Facebook, TikTok, and Threads, which are still the dominant platforms among Gen Z. Around early April, users started remixing the folk verse to apply to daily life. And within days, the format exploded.

It’s funny, nostalgic, and smartly satirical. You’ll find these verses in meme pages, TikTok videos, celebrity captions, and even in comment sections roasting shady behavior.

Even Vietnamese celebrities are getting in on it

Famous Vietnamese figures like singer Phùng Khánh Linh, MC Thanh Thanh Huyền, and actor Quang Tuấn have jumped on the trend. This added more fuel to the fire, making “Phiên Chợ Đông” even more mainstream.

Why does it resonate with Gen Z?

Vietnamese Gen Z has always had a sharp sense of humor, rooted in sarcasm and quick comebacks. What makes this trend extra powerful is how it blends:

• Old vs. new: Folk poetry meets modern social media.

• Drama + Dignity: People laugh while still calling out shady behavior.

• Freedom of Expression: It lets anyone be a poetic “roaster” without being mean-spirited.

Much like how Americans use Shakespeare memes or how Koreans remix ancient proverbs, Vietnamese Gen Z is giving folk art a meme makeover.

When Internet Drama Becomes a Marketplace

While the trend is still lighthearted, there’s a risk of overuse or going too far. Some users take the format to extremes—dragging others, inserting fake drama, or using it for subtle callouts.

As with any viral format, the golden rule applies: Be witty, not messy.

Conclusion

The “Phiên Chợ Đông” trend is a fascinating case of how Gen Z across cultures reclaims tradition through humor and memes. It shows that even in Vietnam—a place rich in poetic history—youth are finding new ways to speak their truth in bite-sized, brilliant formats.

If you’re trying to understand Vietnamese internet culture, this is your moment to dive in. It’s not just funny—it’s full of social insight, language play, and emotional honesty.

So next time you see a line starting with “Phiên chợ đông…”—you’ll know it’s not about fish. It’s about feelings, irony, and the art of poetic trolling.