A Day to Explore Bac Ha Market in Sapa, Vietnam

[Active Travel Asia]

Visitors to Sapa should not miss Sapa's Bac Ha market, a famous highland market throughout the northwest region

Along the way, visitors will see the high mountain, the terraced fields and encounter each ethnic group laughing gurglingly and leading horses to market to sell. To keep up with the market, they have to get up early. Some sellers have even started their journey to market the previous day.

Bac Ha market

Previously, Bac Ha market took place on a sloping hill, but then this market was built on a concrete floor and divided into sales area so it lost its original beauty.

Bac Ha market sells all products of the highlands, the necessary items for the ethnic minorities such as plow, hoe, shovel, knife, fruits, honey.

Booths selling jewelry, dresses, brocade and even attan baskets always attract many tourists. Here, you can optionally select brocaded products, dazzled with the brilliant colors of dresses of Hmong, Red Dzao.

Ethnic minority people in Sapa

Foreign tourists often  like to admire the paintings that are hand-woven with vivid motifs, harmonious colors.

The booths of jewelry attract many tourists

For men, Bac Ha market is also a place where they can meet their friends and drink around the “thang co” pot (large pot).

Tourists to Bac Ha are very interested in exploring the lives and customs of the locals.

Tourist & local people

The ethnics usually bring baskets of vegetables, potatoes, maize or other crops to sell at Bac Ha market, as well as cows and pigs. The place selling horse always attracts men most, they come from remote villages, even those from the provinces of Bac Giang and Ha Tay, coming here to buy horse.

In the trend of commercializing the highland markets,  Bac Ha market is one of the rare places retaining ethnic identity, unique features of the old market.

At an elevation of 1,600 meters, Sapa is a delightful former French hill station situated in the mountainous region of Vietnam's northwest, close to the Chinese border. The region is home to many ethnic minority groups, each wearing traditional and colorful attire. This trip includes a trek through the hills and valleys of the Sapa region, discovering several different minorities along the way. You will experience overnight accommodation in the hospitable villages of Giay and Tay ethnic minorities. The apparent hardships are worth it though as we walk through some of the most spectacular scenery that Vietnam has to offer and experience unique villages culture.

 

Highlights include awesome scenery, rice terraces, colorful minority groups, and homestays in minority villages.

A Sapa trekking & homestay itinerary from ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA is a 4-day tour with 2-day trek and 2-night homestay. Hanoi - Lao Cai - Sapa - Hanoi.