At Mây Bay, freshness is not something you can simply declare; you experience it on foot, early in the morning, at the Vincennes market, where we source the fresh produce we rely on every day. Our 100 % vegetarian and vegan Vietnamese cuisine is based on vibrant herbs, seasonal vegetables and raw ingredients prepared the very same day. Vincennes offers us a rare advantage: three municipal food markets just a few minutes from the restaurant.
Going to the Vincennes market to buy fresh produce is therefore part of our routine, just like kitchen preparation. Here is how these market stalls concretely make their way onto your plate.
Vincennes Market fresh produce, our 2026 sourcing
Reading time: 6 minutes
- Three markets, one local-first reflex
- Where to find fresh produce at the Vincennes market depending on the day
- Fontenay Market, the town-centre meeting place
- Diderot Market, the Wednesday and Saturday option
- Carnot Market, fresh produce near the Château de Vincennes
- What you can actually find on the stalls
- From stall to plate, our local sourcing method
- Practical tips for choosing your fresh produce
- A local connection you can taste
- Frequently Asked Questions
Three markets, one local-first reflex
A town with three food markets
The town of Vincennes has three municipal food markets: the Fontenay market, the Diderot market and the Carnot market. Each has its own days, neighbourhood and atmosphere, but they all operate according to the same principle: an open-air market where specialist traders set up their stalls early in the morning.
This density is a real advantage for a restaurant like ours, as it means we can spread our purchases throughout the week rather than stockpiling. A food market in Vincennes open almost every day means we can cook as closely as possible to what the season provides, without disrupting our rhythm.
The town also specifies that the markets welcome regular traders and visiting traders, and that food traders must obtain prior authorisation from the Supply Markets Commission before setting up. This framework, often invisible to customers, underpins the quality of the stalls and the consistency of the offering from one week to the next.
Where to find fresh produce at the Vincennes market depending on the day
Market calendar and practical information
Before collecting your basket, the simplest thing is to start with the day of the week. Here is a summary of the days, opening hours and location details provided by the Town of Vincennes and the Vincennes Marnebois Tourist Office.
| Market | Opening days | Opening hours | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fontenay Market | Tuesday, Friday, Sunday | 7.30 am to 1.30 pm | Vincennes town centre |
| Diderot Market | Wednesday, Saturday | 7.30 am to 1.30 pm | East of Vincennes |
| Carnot Market | Saturday | 7.30 am to 1.30 pm | South of the town, at the foot of the Château de Vincennes |
These market times in Vincennes are indicative only, as public holidays, the summer period or works may alter arrangements. The town’s official page remains the reference to consult before travelling.
Fontenay Market, the town-centre meeting place
Our main fresh herb market
The Fontenay market in Vincennes is held all year round on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm. It is the best-documented market for fresh produce, with stalls selling fruit and vegetables, fresh fish and fresh meat, [", as well as specialist grocery and flower shops. For anyone looking for a market in Vincennes on Sunday, this is the natural meeting place, where you are just as likely to see families from Fontenay-sous-Bois and Saint-Mandé as local regulars.
This is where we source most of our herbs, the aromatic foundation of Vietnamese cuisine. Coriander, mint, basil, lemongrass, ginger, fresh shoots—so many ingredients whose flavour quality can change within just a few hours. A bunch of herbs cut the day before and bought from a stall is nothing like a product that has spent several days in transit.
Good to know
Vincennes’ municipal markets open at 7.30 am and close at 1.30 pm. Arriving within the first hour is still the best way to get the widest choice of seasonal produce.
Diderot Market, the Wednesday and Saturday option
Located in the east of the town, Diderot Market complements the schedule with two weekly sessions, on Wednesday and Saturday. It serves as a useful midweek alternative, particularly for buying fruit and vegetables in Vincennes when Fontenay Market is closed.
For a kitchen operating on a just-in-time basis, this alternation avoids relying on a single source of supply and makes it possible to adjust quantities according to the restaurant’s actual footfall.
Carnot Market, fresh produce near the Château de Vincennes
Carnot Market takes place on Saturday morning, in the south of the town, at the foot of Vincennes Castle. It is the easiest for visitors to identify, and the most enjoyable to visit on a stroll, between the castle, the floral park and the woods.
If you are looking for fresh produce near Vincennes Castle, this is the easiest place to find. Many of our Saturday customers combine a morning at the market with lunch at our restaurant, leaving their basket beside the table.
What you can actually find on the stalls
Institutional and tourism sources mention several major categories of products available at Vincennes’ markets. Here is what you can look for there every day:
- Seasonal fruit and vegetables, grown by market gardeners and replenished as new deliveries arrive
- Fishmonger’s and artisanal butcher’s products, for households sourcing fresh fish and fresh meat
- Groceries, food products from specialist retailers, flowers and plants
On our side, the selection is narrower, as our menu is entirely plant-based. We buy vegetables, herbs, aromatics, citrus fruits and seasonal fruit, and supplement these with our specialist suppliers for tofu, rice, rice noodles and shiitake mushrooms. The market is therefore not our only source, but it is the one that sets the tone of the menu, particularly for our starters and daily specials.
From stall to plate, our local sourcing method
Simple criteria for choosing our products
Local sourcing only makes sense if it changes something on the plate. In practical terms, a short supply chain reduces the time between harvesting and cutting, which is immediately noticeable in the texture of the herbs and the firmness of the vegetables.
Our selection at the market stall is based on simple criteria: firmness, colour, smell, the origin stated by the trader and consistency with the season. We prioritise raw ingredients, which we then prepare in the kitchen, without any intermediate industrial processing.
This approach is reflected in the menu. Our Goi Mây Bay salad with vegetables relies entirely on the freshness of its raw vegetables and herbs. Banh Cuon, our steamed rice pancake, requires impeccable mushrooms and herbs so that the delicacy of the batter can shine through. The Bun Cha Gio, our vermicelli with crispy vegetable spring rolls, relies on a balance between the freshness of the raw vegetables and the crispiness of the spring roll.
You can find all these dishes at our menu, and discover our approach on the page dedicated to our concept.
Key points
Stock turnover is the true indicator of freshness in a restaurant. Buying often and in small quantities means accepting that you need to adapt your menu to the season rather than the other way round.
Practical tips for choosing your fresh produce
Whether you are cooking for two or for a Sunday gathering, a few simple habits significantly improve your shopping at an open-air market in Vincennes. Here are the ones we apply ourselves:
- Arrive early to enjoy the widest choice, then compare the origin, appearance and prices at several stalls before making your decision
- Ask the trader for advice on storage and preparation, bring a cool bag for sensitive products and leave refrigerated purchases until last
To find out where to buy vegetables in Vincennes during the week, simply remember the Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday trio, then the weekend, with Saturday at the Diderot or Carnot market and Sunday at the Fontenay market. This timetable covers almost the entire week, which remains quite unusual in the near Paris suburbs.
A local connection you can taste
Our concept combines a place to enjoy fresh, healthy dishes with a contemporary, relaxing setting. This balance would not hold without the raw ingredients.
The proximity of the Vincennes markets allows us to keep this promise all year round, with straightforward traceability: that of a trader we know and a season we respect. It is also what enables us to offer the same quality to take away, for a quick lunch or dinner at home.
If you would like to come for lunch after your shopping, reservation is still the safest way to get a table, particularly on Saturday and Sunday lunchtime.
FAQ
Are the Vincennes markets held on public holidays?
Opening hours and arrangements may vary on public holidays, during the summer period or due to works. The official Vincennes Town Hall website remains the source to check before travelling.
Can you order from or have products delivered directly by market traders?
There is no common ordering or delivery policy for all the stallholders. Each trader has their own arrangements, so you will need to ask individually at the stall.
Are all Mây Bay dishes vegetarian?
Yes, our menu is entirely vegetarian and vegan, without exception. The fishmongers’ and butchers’ stalls at the Vincennes markets are therefore not relevant to our supplies.
Which market do you recommend for a first visit to Vincennes?
The Carnot market on Saturday mornings remains the most picturesque thanks to its location at the foot of the Château de Vincennes, ideal if you combine shopping, a walk in the woods and lunch.
Do you offer set menus for group meals or business lunches?
We regularly host team lunches and business meals. The simplest option is to book in advance and specify the number of covers and the desired time.
In summary
By focusing our sourcing on Vincennes fresh produce markets and short supply chains, we can cook a Vietnamese vegetarian and vegan menu every day that stays true to the seasons, both for dining in and takeaway.
