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Bac Ha Sunday Market
Bac Ha is a town situated in a high valley approximately 100 kilometers northwest of the popular destination of Sapa. There isn't much to see in the town itself, except on Sundays when ethnic minorities gather at the bustling Bac Ha Market.
Bac Ha may not be as spectacular as Sapa but picturesque. It is also not very touristy and is worth the visit. On Sundays, you can immerse in the atmosphere of the colorful outdoor market in Can Cau. Bac Ha is also a good starting point for visiting the surrounding ethnic villages of Ban Pho and Coc Ly.
What to see at Bac Ha Market?
Broderie
The broderie sold in the market is very vibrant and colorful. The different colors and patterns apparently represent different cultures, which is noticeable if you really pay attention. Each ethnic minority has its own traditional costume, and each stall in the market belongs to a particular ethnic culture. If you're not sure which item belongs to which tribe, just ask the vendor. Each product is handmade.
The clothing you can find in the market includes costumes, brocades, fabrics, tote bags, blankets, wall hangings, hats, and scarves. Colorful fabrics are also available for those who want to make their own clothes.
In addition to colorful clothing, they also have handmade jewelry and decor. Bronze earrings, bracelets, as well as delicate sculptures, can be excellent souvenirs to bring back for your friends and family back home.
Food court
Just like the clothing of ethnic groups, the food in the market also comes in different colors. Have you ever tried red pho or blue or purple sticky rice? These foods, colored by local spices, are not only visually appealing but are actually tasty. Another specialty of the region is buffalo and horse meat dishes (thang co), which you can also find in the market.
Here you’ll find fruits and vegetables in abundance. Of course, you can find them everywhere, but those sold at the Bac Ha market are locally sourced, so they are fresh and without any preservatives. You can even stop at any stall and ask the vendor if you can taste it before buying, which is something a lot of Vietnamese people do when shopping for fruits and vegetables, and the vendors won’t say no.
Livestock market
On a hill, separated from the main market, you'll discover a bizarre yet impressive livestock market where animals such as pigs, cows, buffaloes, chickens, and horses are exchanged. It's fascinating to witness each animal being carefully picked out by color and size before being sold, but not before some serious haggle. This is the only market in Vietnam that even has a specialized area for horse trading. It's estimated that hundreds of horses are sold here each season.
The livestock market is one of the most striking sections of the Bac Ha Market. Just keep in mind that the animals defecate and urinate in the street, which is probably going to smell, so watch your step as you explore.
When does Bac Ha Market take place?
The residents of the neighboring villages of Bac Ha only come to Bac Ha Market once a week, on Sundays, from early morning until noon (6 a.m. to 12 p.m.). Many of these men and women, young or old, from the Dao and Hmong hill tribes, arrive at the market as early as 4 AM to set up their stalls and lay out all their items.
Several festivals are also organized in Bac Ha by the ethnic minorities, making the visit to Bac Ha Market even more worthwhile. It would be fantastic if you could visit Bac Ha Market during one of these festivals.
Spring is the best time to visit Bac Ha Market as it marks the season of beautiful plum blossoms and the time when various festivals take place. The Say San and Ruoc Dat Ruoc Nuoc festivals are held consecutively from the 2nd to the 6th of January and on the 15th of January of the lunar calendar. These festivals are to celebrate the new year and to wish for prosperity, favorable weather and a bountiful harvest. There is also the horse racing festival in Bac Ha that takes place in early June. The last festival is the Bac Ha Temple Festival on the 7th of July in the lunar calendar.
How to get to Bac Ha Market?
If you ever have the opportunity to visit misty Sapa on weekends, you definitely shouldn't miss out on Bac Ha market. From Lao Cai city center, take the national route QL70. When you reach Bac Ngam village, turn left, then continue for about 30km more to reach the market.
Typically, if you're traveling from Lao Cai city, it will take about 3 hours to reach Bac Ha market. One thing to note, though, is that along the road, there are going to be several winding and challenging mountain passes, so if you're traveling by motorbike, be extremely careful. However, it’s going to be an extremely scenic ride. You can admire the majestic mountains and valleys of the Northwest and vibrant yellow terraced fields winding along the hills.
And don't forget that Bac Ha market opens from early morning until around 3 PM, so if you want to participate in this unique market session, you should start your journey early. Typically, people often choose to travel to Bac Ha from Saturday night, spend the night, and start exploring the market early the next morning.
