Nestled in the mountains of northwestern Vietnam, Bac Ha attracts travelers not only for its authentic landscapes but also for its colorful ethnic markets that make this region famous. These markets play a significant role in their commercial, cultural and social exchanges.
The visit of the markets in the mountains is a plus for your circuit in the North, it allows you to meet the different ethnic groups in traditional dress, to discover the local products and the so particular way of life of the mountain dwellers living in the remote places out of the traditional routes.
Depending on the day of the week, these weekly markets take place in different places. Find below the ethnic markets in Bac Ha area.
1. The market of Bac Ha
Among all the colorful ethnic markets in Bac Ha, Bac Ha market is the most lively and colorful. It is the most touristy market in this small town.
This market takes place in the center of Bac Ha every Sunday, from early morning until noon. Each ethnic minority wears their traditional costumes and speaks their own language. The atmosphere is vibrant and lively: the mountain people in colorful traditional dresses go to the market on foot, scooter, horse, and buffalo with their agricultural products and children. These ethnic minorities coming from far away hamlets sell animals (buffaloes, oxen, pigs, dogs, horses…), fruits, vegetables, forest products, basketry objects, clothes…
The market is not only a place for commercial exchanges but also a place to meet people.
You can taste local dishes and try rice and corn alcohol at the market. It is also a good idea to buy local souvenirs at Bac Ha market.
2. The market of Can Cau
Located in the heart of a picturesque valley surrounded by rice terraces and mountains, 20 km north of Bac Ha, Can Cau market, famous for its buffalo trade, is held every Saturday morning. Smaller than Bac Ha, Can Cau market gathers various minorities such as Flower Hmong, Black Dao and Nung. It remains quite preserved. On the beautiful panoramic road leading to Can Cau, you can make several stops to admire the landscapes and the Hmong mud houses.
This market is organized according to the Dao trade practices. It is divided into different characteristic areas for each type of local products: brocatelles, game, fruits and vegetables, medicinal herbs, clothes, tools, textiles, pigs and dogs, etc. The main products in the market are water buffaloes. This is the most important buffalo market in North Vietnam. The atmosphere in this area is very lively and cheerful, with customers and sellers, standing or sitting, buying products, negotiating with each other. Negotiations between buyers and sellers are always energetic and each transaction ends with a firm handshake.
3. The market of Sin Cheng
Sin Cheng market, located about 1h30 from Bac Ha, takes place every Wednesday morning. It is a small market which is not very frequented by tourists and therefore authentic and very well preserved.
It is the meeting point of different ethnic groups: Hmong, Phu La, Dao, Han (Chinese) from Muong Khuong district.
The most famous product of Sin Cheng market is rice, it is said that the rice of Sin Cheng market is of high quality. Other popular products in this market are ducks, rice alcohol and traditional clothes.
A special feature of Sin Cheng market is that tourists can see minorities riding horses.
4. Coc Ly market
The Coc Ly market, 1h30 from Bac Ha, is held every Tuesday morning. Located near the bridges over the Chay River, it is the place where different tribes from the surrounding mountains of Nung, Black Dzao, Tay, Phu La and especially the Flower Hmong gather. They exchange local specialties, traditional handmade clothes, accessories or herbs from the jungle.
Even though the market is the smallest, its business is doing well and it is one of the places where you can see so many different ethnic minority traits mixing.
After the market, you can visit the Tay ethnic villages or take a nice boat ride along the Chay River.
You can discover other ethnic markets in Bac Ha area such as Lung Khau Nhin market on Thursday, Cao Son market on Wednesday, etc… Less known and more remote but they are all great and worth a visit for their majestic landscapes. An opportunity to participate in local ethnic life awaits you!
