東協廣場有著小東南亞的別稱，是個很奇妙的地方，來自東南亞的移工們讓這個曾經沒落的熱鬧商圈重生了，雖然我知道中部有個中科園區，可能有人力的需求，但我本來不知道台中的移工們有多少，但根據統計，產業發達的台中市，移工總數約11萬5000多人，是各縣市第二高的地方，但移工們週末時想碰面時，離台中火車站僅500公尺，交通便利的東協廣場便是一個絕佳的好地點。
聽說東協廣場前的綠川岸邊，每逢週末都會見到越南、印尼及泰國移工聚集，他們可能聊天或吃飯，購物或休閒，常常看到他們週末時，在這裡一待就是一整天，也讓東協廣場的商業交易異常熱烈，想一想，人們在一個地方待一天，總是要消費的吧，餓了的話，要吃飯，口渴的話，想喝飲料，所以，周邊的東南亞家鄉味小吃林立。
當我走進東協廣場時，一樓幾乎全是通訊行，及少數的服飾店，和台北的萬年商場很像，我猜，因為現今社會，手機已經變成人們接觸世界的第一道窗口，因此，通訊行都開在最顯眼的一樓店面，很多年輕人可以不吃飯，但是不能不滑手機，移工們也一樣，他們只要搞定手機大小事，天塌下來，也不怕，難怪聽說，這裡的通訊行，賣手機的速度堪稱最快的，我看新聞提到，很多東南亞的移工，都靠著打電話回老家，和家人朋友聊天，來一解鄉愁，所以，這裡的業績那麼好，也是可以理解的。
當我逛到二樓的東南亞超市，發現這間超市還蠻大間的，裡面的貨架分成印尼、越南、菲律賓跟泰國區，除了東南亞特色食物及零食之外，也販售東南亞獨有的生活用品，讓用不習慣台灣貨的東南亞朋友，可以一解鄉愁，就和我在美國時，也常常光臨華人超市，購買一些家鄉味食材，是一樣的道理，不過，這類商店的商品價錢，會稍高一些，不過，大部分的人是不會計較這點溢價的，說實話，我買了一些東南亞的小零嘴，還蠻好吃，又不貴，當我漫步東協廣場，我可以感覺到，我和東南亞移工朋友們的外表沒太大差別，但是，這裡，和我習慣生活的世界，是兩個不同的世界，有著稍稍不同的差異，些許的異國風情，給我一種既新奇又熟悉的奇妙感覺。
ASEAN Square is often nicknamed "Little Southeast Asia" and it’s such a fascinating place. Migrant workers from Southeast Asia have breathed new life into this once-declining shopping district. While I know there’s a major industrial park in central Taiwan, which likely creates a demand for labor, I didn’t realize just how many migrant workers were in Taichung. According to statistics, Taichung, a city with a thriving industrial base, has about 115,000 migrant workers, making it the second-highest among all cities in Taiwan. For these workers, ASEAN Square—just 500 meters from Taichung Train Station and super accessible—has become a perfect spot to meet up on weekends.
I’ve heard that along the banks of the Green River in front of ASEAN Square, you’ll find Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Thai workers gathering on weekends. They might be chatting, eating, shopping, or just relaxing. It’s common to see them spend their entire day here, which naturally makes business in ASEAN Square incredibly lively. Think about it—if you’re hanging out in one place for a whole day, you’re bound to spend money, right? You’ll need food when you’re hungry or drinks when you’re thirsty. That’s probably why there are so many Southeast Asian snack stands and eateries offering authentic flavors from home.
When I stepped inside ASEAN Square, I noticed that the first floor was almost entirely filled with mobile phone stores, along with a few clothing shops. It reminded me of Taipei’s Wan Nian Building. My guess is that, in today’s world, mobile phones are the primary gateway to connect with the rest of the world, so it makes sense that phone shops would occupy the most visible ground-floor spots. Many young people nowadays might skip a meal but wouldn’t go without their phones, and it’s the same for migrant workers. As long as they have their phones sorted, they don’t seem to worry about much else. It’s no wonder I’ve heard that these stores sell phones at lightning speed. I also read in the news that many Southeast Asian workers make regular calls back home to chat with family and friends, helping ease their homesickness. So, the booming business here makes perfect sense.
When I made my way to the second floor, I found a large Southeast Asian supermarket. The shelves were organized into sections for Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand. Besides unique Southeast Asian foods and snacks, the store also sold household items that you can’t find in Taiwan. For those who aren’t used to Taiwanese products, this place offers a taste of home, similar to how I used to frequent Chinese supermarkets in the U.S. to pick up familiar ingredients. Of course, the prices in these specialty stores tend to be a bit higher, but most people don’t mind paying the premium. Honestly, I bought some Southeast Asian snacks myself, and they were quite tasty and not too expensive.
As I wandered through ASEAN Square, I felt that I didn’t look much different from my Southeast Asian friends here, outwardly. However, this place, compared to the world I’m accustomed to, felt like a completely different universe. It had subtle yet distinct differences and a hint of exotic charm that gave me a feeling that was both fresh and familiar.
For the best experience view this post on Liketu