Bac Ha market is one of the largest and most famous Sunday markets in the Northwest region of Vietnam. It attracts a large number of local residents and tourists from everywhere to visit, shop, and experience the culture. Let’s find out more!
1 Bac Ha Market – Lao Cai, the liveliest market in the Northwest
Bac Ha market is one of the largest and most famous markets in Lao Cai province. Located in the center of Bac Ha town, 70 km from Lao Cai city, Bac Ha market is a gathering place for many ethnic minorities such as Hmong, Nung, Tay, Dao, and Phu La.
Bac Ha market takes place every Sunday morning, starting early in the morning and lasting until noon. From early morning, the market is bustling with laughter, people buying and selling. Ethnic minority women in colorful costumes, flowing dresses, and colorful headscarves create a vibrant and impressive scene.
In the market, you can find a wide range of products, from daily necessities such as clothes, shoes, household items, to local products such as buffalo meat, horse meat, pig heads,… The market is also a place for cultural exchange between ethnic minorities. People from different ethnic groups come here not only to buy and sell but also to meet, exchange, and learn about each other’s cultures.
Not only a place for cultural exchange, Bac Ha market is also an ideal destination for food lovers. Here, you can taste many specialties of the Northwest highland such as thang co, sour pho Bac Ha, corn cakes, sticky rice cakes, black square cakes,…
Bac Ha Market – Lao Cai, the liveliest market in the Northwest
2 How to visit Bac Ha market?
When does Bac Ha market take place?
Bac Ha market takes place every Sunday, from early morning until around 2 pm. It is one of the largest and most famous markets in the Northwest, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists to visit, shop, and experience the culture.
When does Bac Ha market take place?
How to get to Bac Ha market?
Bac Ha market is located in Bac Ha town, Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province. It is about 70 km from the center of Lao Cai city and about 300 km from Hanoi.
There are 3 popular ways to get to Bac Ha market:
By bus
This is the most convenient and cost-effective way of transportation. From Hanoi or Lao Cai city, you can take a bus to Bac Ha town. The travel time is about 3-4 hours. The bus ticket prices range from 100,000 – 150,000 VND/person.
By motorbike
If you are an adventurous person and want to be flexible with your time, you can ride a motorbike to Bac Ha market. From Hanoi, you follow the Nội Bài – Lao Cai Highway, then take National Road 70 to Bac Ha town. The travel time is about 5-6 hours.
By joining a tour
If you don’t have much time or don’t want to travel on your own, you can join a Bac Ha market tour. The tours usually depart from Hanoi or Lao Cai city, including transportation, meals, sightseeing, and tour guides.
How to get to Bac Ha market?
3 What to do at Bac Ha market?
Below are some interesting activities you can participate in when visiting Bac Ha market:
Shopping for handicrafts and souvenirs
Bac Ha market is an ideal place to shop for handicrafts and souvenirs. Here, you can find a wide range of traditional handicraft products such as clothes, scarves, hats, bags,… and handicraft products such as embroidered paintings, wooden crafts,… at affordable prices.
Shopping for handicrafts and souvenirs at Bac Ha market
Visiting the buffalo and horse market
The buffalo and horse market is one of the highlights of Bac Ha market. You can admire the strong and beautiful buffalo and horses with curved horns and graceful figures. This is also an opportunity for you to learn about the daily life of people in the highlands.
Visiting the buffalo and horse market
The unique bird and dog market
The bird market is a gathering place for a variety of birds, from small birds like sparrows, finches, canaries,… to larger birds like eagles, falcons, hawks,… The birds at Bac Ha market are kept in beautifully decorated small cages.
The dog market is also a place where famous Bac Ha dogs gather, known for their fluffy and mischievous appearance. It is not only a place for buying and selling, but also a place for exchanging experiences in dog care and breeding among passionate pet lovers.
The unique bird and dog market
Participating in cultural and artistic activities
Bac Ha market is not only a place for trading and exchanging goods, but also a place for ethnic minority people to meet, exchange, and learn about each other’s cultures. At Bac Ha market, you can participate in cultural and artistic activities such as traditional dances, folk songs, tug of war,…
Participating in cultural and artistic activities
4 What to eat at Bac Ha market?
What to eat at Bac Ha market?
Bac Ha market is an attractive destination, with a distinctive cultural identity of the Northwest highlands. If you have the opportunity to visit Lao Cai, don’t forget to visit Bac Ha market to experience the unique culture of the ethnic minorities here.
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