1. Where is Bac Ha fair?
- Address : Bac Ha town, Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province
Bac Ha market is about 65km from Lao Cai city, about 135km from Sapa. This is considered the largest-scale market in the highlands and a place to exchange and exchange goods outside. Besides, Bac Ha market is also a meeting and exchange point for ethnic minorities H’Mong, Dao, Thai, Tay, Muong…
Photo: @moon_travel_2018
Compared with nostalgic Hanoi, quiet and dreamy Hue, Bac Ha market has its own national color that is hard to find anywhere. In particular, the image of boys and girls in colorful costumes and unique ethnic utensils has created a special attraction for domestic and foreign tourists.
Photo: @buuigiang
2. The way to Bac Ha market
From the city center, you can catch a bus to Phien market and it takes just over 2 hours by car to get there. If traveling by motorbike or car, you will pass through the road connecting Sapa town to Coc Le bridge. Then just go straight on National Highway 70 and then turn left at Bac Ngam junction to reach Bac Ha. This road is about 135km, about 4 hours by car. The path is quite easy and safe, so you can rest assured.
Photo: collectibles
3. On what date does Bac Ha fair meet?
Bac Ha market is held every Sunday and ends at 2pm on the same day. Especially on holidays and Tet, the market is more bustling and crowded. According to the sharing of local people, the market is divided into small areas such as food market, brocade market, food market, forging market … lively and bustling exchange of goods.
Photo: @laocai.star.hotel
After finishing the market, you can drive back to Sapa or spend the night here. For those of you who want to explore all the nature and people of the highlands, you can make a trip to Bac Ha right after.
4. Activities at Bac Ha market
When coming to Bac Ha market, you definitely cannot miss the following extremely interesting experiences.
Discover the cuisine of Bac Ha market
One of the most interesting things when traveling to Bac Ha market is discovering the cuisine here.
Eat snacks at Bac Ha market
A favorite activity when going to the market is eating attractive snacks here. On the main road leading to the market, you will see cake stalls located close together.
Photo: @dungnv77
The snack cakes are fried golden, inside there are all kinds of fillings that will make many diners fall in love. For less than 5000 VND, you can buy a super delicious snack.
Enjoy traditional food
It can be said that Bac Ha market has enough. The cuisine of the market is very unique, the most prominent one is Thang Co. This is a traditional dish of the Mong ethnic group made from cattle meat (buffalo, pig, horse) and five viscera cooked with highland spices.
Photo: @laocai.star.hotel
Coming to Bac Ha market, it only costs you about 30,000 VND to enjoy an attractive and delicious bowl of ancient victory. Fatty, slightly greasy meat served with wild vegetables, rich hot pot. In particular, the specially prepared dipping sauce is very strange. Those who are gourmets will feel the aftertaste of highland cuisine only in Bac Ha.
Drink corn wine
In addition to Thang Co, corn wine is also especially famous throughout the land of Bac Ha. This is a specialty of the H’Mong and Dao people living here. The wine is heavy and has a strong taste, and the price is quite cheap. You can buy it as a gift or sip a cup to feel the taste.
Photo: @theswanderers
Buy bonsai, forest orchids
The area selling ornamental plants and orchids is usually located at the main entrance to the market. The price of ‘chestnut’ only costs from a few tens to hundreds of thousands of dong, so you can immediately buy a flower pot that you like to bring home the flavor of the mountains.
Photo: @myquan2013
Buy herbs and precious medicines
If you do not know which Sapa specialty to buy as a gift, you can choose to buy many precious medicinal plants at Bac Ha fair. Here, there are fresh and dried three halves, three halves, and dried ha thu wu all sold a lot on weekends.
Photo: @ddieungoc
Chat, take souvenir photos with local people
Not a famous singer or idol, but most visitors take the opportunity to chat and ask for photos with the locals. This is how they keep good memories and learn more about the indigenous people.
Photo: @huynguyenind
In particular, the personality of the highlanders is very open and cheerful, so if you have the opportunity to visit, try to talk and practice speaking the ethnic language with the locals. This will definitely be one of the unforgettable experiences.
Buy souvenirs
Bac Ha fair is famous for its delicate brocade woven products. It can be hats, scarves, bags, bracelets, necklaces… made from skillful hands of highland women. Walking around the stalls, you will want to buy all the lovely items here.
Photo: @moon_travel_2018
Visiting the cattle and poultry trading area
Located at the end of Bac Ha market, the livestock and poultry market is located on a hill separate from the food, food, and brocade sale areas. Upland people bring chickens, pigs and buffaloes from home to the market to exchange and trade. Maybe you will find a cute dog in this place.
Photo: @dzu.du
Enjoy the musical performance
Performing arts is considered the most attractive activity at Bac Ha fair. Most tourists like to watch traditional singing and dancing performances of ethnic girls. All worries and pressures of life are removed to immerse in the exciting and bustling atmosphere.
Photo: Collectibles
5. Note when traveling to Bac Ha market
If you are going to Bac Ha market for the first time, you should note some of the following points to make your trip more complete.
Photo: @arita8384
- When taking photos with locals, you should buy them an item.
- You should learn how to bid because many sellers can “scream” high prices to tourists.
- Note the situation of children pulling tourists.
- Look carefully at the goods before buying because there are many products of Chinese origin mixed and sold here.
- You should travel by motorbike to save travel costs and easily visit more attractions.
Bac Ha fair is a place to preserve the cultural beauty of the highland people from ancient times to the present day. Hope you will have many great experiences at this market!
In addition to Bac Ha market, Lao Cai is also quite famous and anyone traveling here also wants to visit. If you have the opportunity to go, you should not miss this place.
Source: Collected internet.