Tourists traveling to Sapa should not miss an interesting tour – Bac Ha market, a famous highland market throughout the Northwest. About 80km from Sapa, Bac Ha Market It is not only a place to buy and sell but also a place for cultural and emotional exchange.
Every Sunday, Bac Ha holds the largest market near the high mountains and the Chinese border. Previously, Bac Ha market met on a steep hill, later the market was built on concrete and divided into trading areas. So it somewhat lost its pristine beauty.
Along the way to Bac Ha market, visitors will encounter high mountains, deep abysses and terraced fields; meet the ethnic people leading the pack horses to the market. To reach the market, they have to go early; even many people have to go from the day before to noon the next day.
Local family on the way to the market
Many different ethnic groups such as Hoa, Phu La, Dao, Tay, and Nung minorities gather to buy and sell local products and necessary items for the ethnic people such as plows, hoes, shovels, knives, etc. vegetables, fruits, honey… However, the most attractive products for ethnic women and tourists are jewelry, skirts, dresses, brocades and even charming rattan baskets. At the market, you can freely choose brocade products, dazzled with the brilliant colors of the dresses of the Mong and the Red Dao. Foreign tourists often admire the hand-embroidered paintings with vivid patterns, harmonious and beautiful colors.
At the market, adventurous foodies can try thang co congee, a popular dish of the H’Mong and locals. People often sit in groups around the pan of thang co cake, eating and chatting. Around a street corner, the strong alcohol vapor awakens your sense of smell, from corn wine, a specialty of Bac Ha.
In addition to the usual items such as pigs, cows, chickens, ducks, Bac Ha market also sells Bac Ha dogs. The horse-selling area attracts most men from remote villages, even foreigners such as Bac Giang, Ha Tay, etc.
In the current trend of commercializing upland markets, Bac Ha is one of the rare places that still retains the traditional identity and unique features of the old market. People come to Bac Ha fair not only to buy and sell but also to have fun. Bac Ha Market in Vietnam ends around 3pm.
