The development of rural markets is a crucial aspect of Vietnam’s New Rural Construction program, aiming to boost the local economy. Recognizing the vast potential of Ta Phoi, the city of Lao Cai revived the Ta Phoi – Hop Thanh highland cultural market. In early 2012, the city directed the two communes of Ta Phoi and Hop Thanh to survey, plan, and allocate land in the market area for locals and traders who wished to build homes, open service shops, and engage in business.
Local authorities provided the most favorable conditions for people to interact and exchange goods, especially encouraging farmers to bring their produce to the market. The right policy, along with synchronized and people-oriented implementation, helped revive and develop the market, making it increasingly bustling and vibrant.
The Ta Phoi – Hop Thanh market starts at 6 am every Sunday when the first rays of sunlight pierce through the leaves, awakening the highland area. People flock to the market, joining in the lively atmosphere like a grand festival. It includes the Mong and Dao ethnic groups from the highland villages of Phin Ho and U Si Sung in Ta Phoi, the Xa Pho, Giay, and Tay people from Hop Thanh, as well as locals from the southern wards of the city and numerous tourists.
This blend of cultures and people creates a colorful tapestry unique to Lao Cai. The market’s allure lies in the diversity and uniqueness of local specialties. Most items for sale are fresh agricultural products, carefully cultivated and raised by the locals. Visitors can find delicacies characteristic of the mountainous region, such as fragrant newly harvested sticky rice, pure forest honey, Pèng village tea with its distinct flavor, and vibrant indigenous vegetables.
Notably, the market also gathers various medicinal herbs and forest fruits and seeds processed into unique spices essential to the local cuisine, such as the aromatic doji seeds and the flavorful thao qua. Alongside these are familiar agricultural products like corn, sweet potatoes, cassava, and free-range chicken, duck, and goose, ensuring freshness and quality.
Combining these elements with the pristine climate, serene scenery, and the hospitality of the local people, Ta Phoi – Hop Thanh exerts a powerful attraction for near and far travelers.
With a planned area of over 4,000 square meters, the Ta Phoi – Hop Thanh market is more than just a place for trading goods. The main market, designed with a roof, also serves as a multi-purpose space for cultural exchanges, artistic performances, and a venue for communicating the Party’s policies and the State’s laws to the people.
By integrating propaganda activities into the market days, the locals’ awareness of eradicating backward customs, building a civilized lifestyle, preserving and promoting ethnic cultural identity has significantly improved. This is also an essential part of the joint effort to build a new rural area locally.
The Ta Phoi – Hop Thanh highland cultural market is gradually becoming more organized, with an increasing number of locals and tourists attending, creating a bustling atmosphere. The market’s development has brought about practical benefits: locals no longer have to travel far to trade, saving time and expenses. More importantly, it has created more jobs and stable incomes for a large number of local workers, significantly improving the lives of the highland people in Ta Phoi – Hop Thanh.
The maintenance, management, and promotion of the Ta Phoi – Hop Thanh market are not only crucial steps in economic development but also represent an attractive new destination and a promising potential for community-based tourism in the suburbs of Lao Cai city. This place promises to continue as a bridge between tradition and modernity and between indigenous culture and development, enriching Vietnam’s tourism map.
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