Due to rapid modernisation, many markets have lost theirauthenticity, but Bac Ha market in northern mountainous Lao Cai provincestill retains its identity and uniqueness.
The road to Bac Ha district is bordered by terraced rice fields,magnificent mountains and the stilt houses of ethnic minority people.Since early morning, along the road to Bac Ha, local ethnic people intheir traditional costumes on horseback, on foot and sometimes onmotorbike, carry goods to the market.
Bac Hadistrict is inhabited by 14 ethnic minority groups, predominantly HMong, Dao, Tay and Nung. Bac Ha market is not only a trading place, butalso a venue for cultural exchanges among local people.
Accordingto the locals, previously, the market was held on a hill in the centreof town. In recent years, due to increasing demand for trading andtourism, the old market has been replaced by a new larger market.
"Themarket is held on Sundays, so everybody can come because the other daysof the week, people have to go to work. My family sells Thang Co,buffalo meat and pork in the market. This business is more profitablethan agriculture," Radio the Voice of Vietnam quoted Lu Van Dao of theNung ethnic group as saying.
The market isdivided into different sections offering different products for sale,but the most crowded corner is the culinary one. Visitors to Bac Hamarket often try Thang Co, a soup made of horse viscera flavoured withlocal spices. This is a traditional dish of the Mong ethnic minority.
Today,Thang Co is also prepared with the viscera of other animals such asgoats or cows but it still appeals to both locals and visitors. To enjoyThang Co with more authenticity, connoisseurs accompany it with a glassor two of corn alcohol.
Bac Ha market isalso a place for local people to trade buffalos and horses. Local peoplecome to the market to buy strong horses to help them do farm work andfast ones to enter the district’s horse race.
"The Mong considerthe horse a family member because it helps them a lot. At the beginningof the New Year, young men from the Mong, Tay, and Dao groups competein a horse race to show their courage and pray for good luck for the NewYear,” said Thao Seo Cau is Vice Chair of the Bac Ha District People’sCommittee.
The market also sells houseware and tools. The most popular stands sell jewelry, clothing, and brocaded fabrics.
Bac Ha market is one of the few that still maintains theauthenticity and uniqueness of a mountain market session. Visiting themarket is an opportunity to discover the local culture.
Five years ago, the market was selected by Serendib magazine of Sri Lanka as one of Southeast Asia’s top most famous markets.-VNA
The road to Bac Ha district is bordered by terraced rice fields,magnificent mountains and the stilt houses of ethnic minority people.Since early morning, along the road to Bac Ha, local ethnic people intheir traditional costumes on horseback, on foot and sometimes onmotorbike, carry goods to the market.
Bac Hadistrict is inhabited by 14 ethnic minority groups, predominantly HMong, Dao, Tay and Nung. Bac Ha market is not only a trading place, butalso a venue for cultural exchanges among local people.
Accordingto the locals, previously, the market was held on a hill in the centreof town. In recent years, due to increasing demand for trading andtourism, the old market has been replaced by a new larger market.
"Themarket is held on Sundays, so everybody can come because the other daysof the week, people have to go to work. My family sells Thang Co,buffalo meat and pork in the market. This business is more profitablethan agriculture," Radio the Voice of Vietnam quoted Lu Van Dao of theNung ethnic group as saying.
The market isdivided into different sections offering different products for sale,but the most crowded corner is the culinary one. Visitors to Bac Hamarket often try Thang Co, a soup made of horse viscera flavoured withlocal spices. This is a traditional dish of the Mong ethnic minority.
Today,Thang Co is also prepared with the viscera of other animals such asgoats or cows but it still appeals to both locals and visitors. To enjoyThang Co with more authenticity, connoisseurs accompany it with a glassor two of corn alcohol.
Bac Ha market isalso a place for local people to trade buffalos and horses. Local peoplecome to the market to buy strong horses to help them do farm work andfast ones to enter the district’s horse race.
"The Mong considerthe horse a family member because it helps them a lot. At the beginningof the New Year, young men from the Mong, Tay, and Dao groups competein a horse race to show their courage and pray for good luck for the NewYear,” said Thao Seo Cau is Vice Chair of the Bac Ha District People’sCommittee.
The market also sells houseware and tools. The most popular stands sell jewelry, clothing, and brocaded fabrics.
Bac Ha market is one of the few that still maintains theauthenticity and uniqueness of a mountain market session. Visiting themarket is an opportunity to discover the local culture.
Five years ago, the market was selected by Serendib magazine of Sri Lanka as one of Southeast Asia’s top most famous markets.-VNA
