Bac Ha market is usually held every Sunday from morning to 2:00 pm, near the mountains and the Chinese border. This market has existed since the establishment of the Lao Cai district. Since then, the market has only opened once a week on Sundays.
Bac Ha market is known as the largest and most beautiful market in the region. Every weekend, many people from the villages around the mountain come to the market to buy and sell food, meat, clothes and household utensils.
Bac Ha market structure
Source: focusasiatravel
Bac Ha Market is divided into sub-zones, each with its own specialty. Coming here, visitors can get lost in a number of places such as brocade markets, food markets, horse markets, chicken markets, bird markets, etc.
In addition, Bac Ha Fair is the only market with a unique horse trading space. It is said that hundreds of horses are sold at each event. Savvy traders can buy very strong horses at low prices.
Highlights of Bac Ha Market
Bac Ha Market sees the presence of many ethnic groups including Hoa H’mong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay, and a small number of Nung, who gather to buy and sell their wares (from everything from skirts to dresses). hand-embroidered to kinds of quadrupedal meat) that cannot be found elsewhere. Therefore, the market is often very crowded and crowded.
Not only a place to buy and sell, Bac Ha market is also a place to meet and exchange cultures and ideas. If you’re lucky enough to catch a rush show, you might see the flow of people and horses pouring into the market through all the lanes and mountain roads. Sitting in groups, eating Thang Co hot pot, and talking to each other, that’s all the locals do when coming to Bac Ha.
Best time to visit Bac Ha market
It would be great if you visit this market in spring. At that time, you can imagine the wonderful scenery of plum blossoms adorning the snow-white mountains and hills. Spring is the season of festivals, so you can mingle with the locals.
Buy brocade and handicrafts
At the Bac Ha market, people can easily find everything necessary for the daily life of the people, from a plow, a shovel, a buffalo, a horse, etc., or clothes.
Visitors will be impressed by the colorful dresses and traditional costumes of H’mong and Red Dao women displayed in the shops on the street. There is also a wide range of designer accessories such as tote bags, shoulder bags, scarves and wallets. You can buy a beautiful item for yourself or bring it home as a gift for friends and relatives. If you don’t know what color the clothes are, ask the seller.
Buy beef and chicken
Located on a high hill, where beef and chicken used to be sold, it seems different from the first market. Here, buyers can choose from a variety of meats, from pork, beef, and buffalo to birds, dogs, or horses. The buffalo market is mainly for traders and male buyers. The country is located in a very large and comprehensive area and serves a large number of people. Nearby is the H’Mong, Dao and chicken markets.
Try Northwest Cuisine
It would be a pity if you visit Bac Ha market without enjoying street food and local specialties. In particular, visiting the Bac Ha fair cannot miss the traditional dish of the Mong people, Thang Co, which is made from horse meat; but here it’s buffalo and pork. In Bac Ha market, there are more than 20 stalls selling this dish.
While enjoying Thang Co, we recommend drinking a few cups of special corn wine from the H’Mong and Dao people in the Sapa Highlands. This wine is also known as Ban Pho corn wine or Bac Ha corn wine. Although the taste is a bit strong at first, it is very fragrant, the aftertaste is not harsh or bitter.
Immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere
Source: havicotour
Bac Ha takes place every year in many interesting festivals. During these events, locals often pray for good luck, favorable rain, and good harvest. Coming to Bac Ha at that time, visitors could witness ethnic minorities wearing their best traditional costumes and joining the crowd drinking and dancing.
Other major festivals in Bac Ha:
- San Reed Festival: 2nd and 6th of the first lunar month.
- Water Rubbing Festival: January 15.
- Horse Festival: takes place in early June.
- Bac Ha Temple Festival: July 7.
Where do you live in Bac Ha?
Because not everywhere have hotels and motels in Bac Ha, so you can book rooms in other buildings near Bac Ha market:
Nobita Inn
- Address: Bac Ha Town, Bac Ha District, Lao Cai
- Tel: 0888 613 666
Bac Ha Eco Homestay
- Address: Nam Cay Hamlet, Bac Ha District, Lao Cai
- Tel: 0941 050 178
Cho Family Homestay
- Address: Phec Bung Hamlet, Ban Pho Ward, Bac Ha District, Lao Cai
- Tel: 0949 423 221
How to get to Bac Ha Market?
You can choose one of the following options after leaving Hanoi:
- By train: Vietnam Railways operates two trains from Hanoi to Lao Cai every day. It will take you 5 hours to reach Lao Cai Railway Station. Then you can take a bus from Lao Cai bus station to Bac Ha market and join the fun scene here.
- Sleeper bus: There are 2 sleeper bus trips to Bac Ha every day from My Dinh bus station. This route will take you about 6 hours.
- By motorbike or car: You can also contact any car or motorbike rental service to have a car for your Hanoi Bac Ha trip. Especially, if you want to rent a tourist car, Hoang Gia Trans can be a reliable choice.
Hoang Gia Trans
Address number. 06 A9, Giang Bien settlement, Long Bien ward, Hanoi
Tel: 0963 242 987
A weekend trip to Sapa and Bac Ha Market is highly recommended, depending on your time and budget in Vietnam. Traveling 3 days 4 nights, you will be mesmerized by the beauty of nature, indigenous people, and unique cultural features of the Northern mountains.
Bac Ha market is usually held every Sunday from morning to 2:00 pm, near the mountains and the Chinese border. This market has existed since the establishment of the Lao Cai district. Since then, the market has only opened once a week on Sundays.
Bac Ha market is known as the largest and most beautiful market in the region. Every weekend, many people from the villages around the mountain come to the market to buy and sell food, meat, clothes, and household utensils.
See more: Hanoi laundry shop
Bac Ha market structure
Bac Ha Market is divided into sub-zones, each with its own specialty. Coming here, visitors can get lost in a number of places such as brocade markets, food markets, horse markets, chicken markets, bird markets, etc.
In addition, Bac Ha Fair is the only market with a unique horse trading space. It is said that hundreds of horses are sold at each event. Savvy traders can buy very strong horses at low prices.
Highlights of Bac Ha Market
Bac Ha Market sees the presence of many ethnic groups including Hoa H’mong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay, and a small number of Nung, who gather to buy and sell their wares (from everything from skirts to dresses). hand-embroidered to kinds of quadrupedal meat) that cannot be found elsewhere. Therefore, the market is often very crowded and crowded.
Not only a place to buy and sell, Bac Ha market is also a place to meet and exchange cultures and ideas. If you’re lucky enough to catch a rush show, you might see the flow of people and horses pouring into the market through all the lanes and mountain roads. Sitting in groups, eating Thang Co hot pot, and talking to each other, that’s all the locals do when coming to Bac Ha.
The best time to visit Bac Ha market
It would be great if you visit this market in spring. At that time, you can imagine the wonderful scenery of plum blossoms adorning the snow-white mountains and hills. Spring is the season of festivals, so you can mingle with the locals.
Buy brocade and handicrafts
At the Bac Ha market, people can easily find everything necessary for daily life of the people, from a plow, a shovel, a buffalo, a horse, etc., or clothes.
Visitors will be impressed by the colorful dresses and traditional costumes of H’mong and Red Dao women displayed in the shops on the street. There is also a wide range of designer accessories such as tote bags, shoulder bags, scarves, and wallets. You can buy a beautiful item for yourself or bring it home as a gift for friends and relatives. If you don’t know what color the clothes are, ask the seller.
Buy beef and chicken
Located on a high hill, where beef and chicken used to be sold, it seems different from the first market. Here, buyers can choose from a variety of meats, from pork, beef, and buffalo to birds, dogs, or horses. The buffalo market is mainly for traders and male buyers. The country is located in a very large and comprehensive area and serves a large number of people. Nearby is the H’Mong, Dao, and chicken markets.
Try Northwest Cuisine
It would be a pity if you visit Bac Ha market without enjoying street food and local specialties. In particular, visiting the Bac Ha fair cannot miss the traditional dish of the Mong people, Thang Co, which is made from horse meat; but here it’s buffalo and pork. In Bac Ha market, there are more than 20 stalls selling this dish.
While enjoying Thang Co, we recommend drinking a few cups of special corn wine from the H’Mong and Dao people in the Sapa Highlands. This wine is also known as Ban Pho corn wine or Bac Ha corn wine. Although the taste is a bit strong at first, it is very fragrant, the aftertaste is not harsh or bitter.
Immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere
Bac Ha takes place every year in many interesting festivals. During these events, locals often pray for good luck, favorable rain, and a good harvest. Coming to Bac Ha at that time, visitors could witness ethnic minorities wearing their best traditional costumes and joining the crowd drinking and dancing.
Other major festivals in Bac Ha:
- San Reed Festival: 2nd and 6th of the first lunar month.
- Water Rubbing Festival: January 15.
- Horse Festival: takes place in early June.
- Bac Ha Temple Festival: July 7.
Where do you live in Bac Ha Market?
Because not everywhere have hotels and motels in Bac Ha, you can book rooms in other buildings near Bac Ha market:
Nobita Inn
- Address: Bac Ha Town, Bac Ha District, Lao Cai
- Tel: 0888 613 666
Bac Ha Eco Homestay
- Address: Nam Cay Hamlet, Bac Ha District, Lao Cai
- Tel: 0941 050 178
Cho Family Homestay
- Address: Phec Bung Hamlet, Ban Pho Ward, Bac Ha District, Lao Cai
- Tel: 0949 423 221
How to get to Bac Ha Market?
You can choose one of the following options after leaving Hanoi:
- By train: Vietnam Railways operates two trains from Hanoi to Lao Cai every day. It will take you 5 hours to reach Lao Cai Railway Station. Then you can take a bus from Lao Cai bus station to Bac Ha market and join the fun scene here.
- Sleeper bus: There are 2 sleeper bus trips to Bac Ha every day from My Dinh bus station. This route will take you about 6 hours.
- By motorbike or car: You can also contact any car or motorbike rental service to have a car for your Hanoi Bac Ha trip. Especially, if you want to rent a tourist car, Hoang Gia Trans can be a reliable choice.
Hoang Gia Trans
Address number. 06 A9, Giang Bien settlement, Long Bien ward, Hanoi
Tel: 0963 242 987
A weekend trip to Sapa and Bac Ha Market is highly recommended, depending on your time and budget in Vietnam. Traveling 3 days 4 nights, you will be mesmerized by the beauty of nature, indigenous people, and unique cultural features of the Northern mountains.
