The Sin Cheng market, located in the remote border area of Si Ma Cai district, in northern Vietnam in the mountains on the border with China, 40 km from Bac Ha, is held every Wednesday morning. Being very remote, this market is less frequented by tourists and is therefore more authentic and very well preserved.
The market is called Sin Cheng but it is also known as Xin Cheng. Sin Cheng market is a typical market with bright colors of the northern mountains of Vietnam where you can meet a dozen different ethnic minorities.
Since a long time, it is not only the place of exchange but also the meeting point of various ethnic groups: Hmong, Phu La, Dao, Giay, Han (Chinese)…
You have to leave early in the morning to go to Sin Cheng market. On a rather steep road full of ruts and rocks, from Bac Ha, it takes about 2 hours to cover these 40 km. You will cross a very beautiful landscape of mountain. Along the way, you will meet women and children who are going to work in the fields.
The market starts early in the morning on the hill. Mountain people, carrying baskets on their backs, go to the market, some leading their buffaloes or horses, others carrying chickens.
The local people also gather here to exchange clothes, fruits, vegetables, horses, buffaloes and other local products. The most famous product of Sin Cheng market is rice, it is said that the glutinous rice of Sin Cheng market is of high quality. Other popular products in this market are ducks, rice alcohol and traditional clothes.
The market is divided into different areas that are each specialized in a particular field: corners of vegetables, livestock, buffaloes, cows, horses, goats … other corners of restaurants, clothing. The most striking features of this market are the colorful traditional clothes of various ethnic minorities and the brocades sold on the stalls.
Visiting this market offers a rewarding opportunity to immerse yourself in the authentic life of the local people. You will find hectic scenes: men negotiate the price to buy buffaloes, children snack in the restaurants and women usually meet in the clothing areas, senior citizens enjoy the rice alcohol…It is a moment of joy for all the locals before resuming their daily routine.
The culinary specialties of the area are corn wine and “Thang co” – a special dish made from horse offal, mountain pork, black chicken and Sin Cheng duck. Another special feature of this Sin Cheng market is that tourists can see the minorities riding horses.
Sin Cheng Market has retained its beauty and charm over the years, so come explore and learn more with our guides.
