Lao Cai is a mountainous province in the Northwest Vietnam, where the famous scenic spot of Sapa and unique cultural traditions of highland people. Sapa Tours From Hanoi is famous for many special markets; and Bac Ha Market is a unique cultural experience of this place that anyone should explore once.
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| Photo by Truth'soutthere |
1. Where is Bac Ha market?
Bac Ha traditional market has long become a famous Sapa tourist destination that anyone who visits Lao Cai will stop by.
Bac Ha market is located exactly in Bac Ha town, Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province. This market is about 65km from Lao Cai city center. A special feature of this fair is the meeting on Sunday mornings every week. So, this is the ideal destination for Sapa weekend trips.
2. How to get to Bac Ha Market
By bus from Sapa: Bac Ha Market lies 100km (62 miles) east of Sapa. The long drive over unkempt, windy roads takes the better part of three hours by minivan - I expect it would take around 4 hours by bus. There are direct local buses from Sapa to Bac Ha, but I recommend changing buses at Lao Cai for a more reliable journey. Minivans bound for Lao Cai city depart from Sapa’s main square throughout the day.
By bus from Lao Cai: In Lao Cai city, find your way to the main bus terminal and pick up a Bac Ha-bound bus. According to this schedule, buses depart at 6am, 11am and 1pm.
By private transport: Any travel agency can organise van transfer to and from Bac Ha. This is essentially what tourist did.
There is another route that visitors often go with to explore Ha Giang. You can go from Hoang Su Phi to Xin Man, passing Bac Ha market to attend the fair. Bac Ha market usually ends around 2 pm. After that, visitors can continue to Sapa if you have time.
3. Unique features of Bac Ha market
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| Photo by AJ Oswald |
Brocade area
Bac Ha market is very large, often divided into many areas with specific characteristics of goods products. The most prominent is the brocade market where the brocade items are sold and hand-woven by the ethnic people themselves. Here you can choose to buy a few beautiful dresses, towels, bags, ... colorful, hanging in the booth.
Area of green vegetables and fruits
The market of green vegetables and fruits at Bac Ha market is also very attractive with many colors of fresh red peppers, lush green vegetables, turmeric yellow beeswax, dark black shovel hoes ... very interested in the eye. Here you can discover more exotic items that may have never been seen before.
Poultry area
Bac Ha Market is mainly a gathering place to sell horses, sell buffaloes but with a very large scale of up to hundreds of animals, , together with men gathered crowded. In addition, there is also a Bac Ha dog market with highland precious dog breeds, be sought after by pet lovers. Another corner is Bac Ha bird market with many rare and precious bird species.
4. What to eat in Bac Ha Market?
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| Photo by collect on the internet |
Men Men (Mèn Mén)
Men Men is a unique dish made from corn, this is a very typical dish of Bac Ha people because the main agricultural product here is corn. Corn kernels are separated and ground into powder until you eat, they bring cornmeal mixed with water and steam it. Men Men are sold in banana-covered baskets or nylon leaves sitting around the market very easy to find.
Thang Co Bac Ha
If you ever travel to Sapa, then surely you've heard about the Thang Co Sapa is not it. Maybe you do not know Bac Ha is the cradle of Thang Co, so no region can make a Thang Co with traditional flavor like in Bac Ha. Thang Co Bac Ha is made from horse meat and internal organs, adding some spices and forest leaves that are often eaten in the cold days beside the kitchen of the pink fire is the best, while eating and sipping some corn wine, there is nothing equal.
Duc Ngo cake
Bac Ha Duc Ngo cake is made from tiny corn, contained in a large pot, when eating, the seller will chop it for more broth and use it together with onion, wild vegetables and chili is a delicacy that cannot be missed in Bac Ha Market, sure you will definitely love it.
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| Photo by Vietnam Typical Tours |
Bac Ha Pho
Another traditional delicacy of Bac Ha cannot be missed when wandering the Bac Ha market is Pho. Bac Ha Pho has many types such as: Pho Chua, cooked Pho, mixed Pho, ... made from red rice - a type of rice grown only in Lung Phinh, Bac Ha. Pho is better when served with meat, pickles, herbs, chili, and salt.
People often say, Sapa tourism that has not visited Bac Ha market, the trip is not really complete. So if you have the opportunity, don't forget to visit the market on Sundays. Here, you have just been able to enjoy unique specialties and have many strange experiences that you will never forget.
