If Ha Giang is famous for the Dong Van Karst Plateau, Lao Cai’s Bac Ha town is known as the “white plateau” because of the beautiful clouds and mist that cover the area. Additionally, Bac Ha town is famous for its traditional markets, ancient mansions, and temples.
An Overview of Bac Ha Town
Bac Ha town is a well-known tourist destination in Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province. It serves as an important bridge for tourism between Lao Cai and Ha Giang. The town is close to the border, has fertile land, and a diverse cultural life.
The area is home to more than four ethnic groups including the Kinh, Tay, Nung, and Hmong. The name “Bac Ha” comes from the Tay language “Pạc ha,” meaning “hundred bundles of rice.” This was later phonetically adapted to Bac Ha in Vietnamese.
Bac Ha town is known as the “white plateau”.
Currently, Bac Ha still has two famous traditional markets: Si Ma Cai and Bac Ha; the Si Ma Cai market takes place on Saturdays, while the Bac Ha market happens on Sundays. Other smaller markets include Coc Ly on Tuesdays, Sin Chen on Wednesdays, and the Lung Phinh market which is typically held on Thursdays and Fridays.
In the center of Bac Ha town, you can visit the Hoang A Tuong mansion and Bac Ha temple. Outside the town, you can explore Lung Phinh Heaven Gate, Kale Farm Bac Ha, Coc Sam steppe, or enjoy a boat ride on the Chay River. If you only have a weekend, you can follow this itinerary to fully experience Bac Ha town:
Day 1: Depart from Hanoi and arrive in Bac Ha at 2:00 PM, check into your accommodation, and rest. At 4:00 PM, visit the Hoang A Tuong mansion, have dinner in the market area, try local dish sui din, and enjoy a cup of coffee.
Day 2: Explore, shop, and experience the cuisine at Bac Ha market. Have lunch at the market at 12:00 PM, then visit Bac Ha temple. Return to your homestay, check out, and conclude your two-day trip in Bac Ha town.
Main Attractions in Bac Ha
Touring Bac Ha town, the attractions and experiences are concentrated within the town center, including the historical and architectural site of Hoang A Tuong mansion, culinary and shopping experiences at Bac Ha market, and the spiritual destination of Bac Ha temple.
Hoang A Tuong Mansion: This building features a blend of Western architecture and Eastern decorations. It was the most beautiful and powerful mansion in Bac Ha when it was built from 1914 to 1921. The family lived here until 1950 when they abandoned it due to political changes. Since being recognized as a historical site on June 11, 1999, the mansion has been better preserved, returned to the family, and developed for tourism.
Hoang A Tuong Mansion is being restored.
Also known as the Hoang Yen Tchao Castle, the mansion belongs to Hoang Yen Tchao, the “Hmong King” of Bac Ha. The mansion is now over 100 years old.
While the original furnishings are no longer present, the mansion has been preserved for tourism, showcasing family photos, local information, daily life, art, lifestyle, costumes, and worship practices of the local ethnic groups. Visitors appreciate the unique architectural details, the wax resist dyeing on fabric, the musical instrument workshop, and the attractive souvenir space.
Location: 257 Ngoc Uyen, Bac Ha town, Bac Ha, Lao Cai. The entrance fee is 20,000 VND per guest. Open from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily.
Bac Ha Market
Visitors to Bac Ha must visit the traditional market here. Bac Ha market is the most prominent feature of Bac Ha town, where you can experience local cuisine, buy fabrics, handicrafts, and pure agricultural products from the highland people.
The market becomes busy on Saturday afternoons, and the night market features food and music, depending on the weather. The main market on Sunday is lively and bustling from early morning, regardless of the weather.
Bac Ha market doesn’t have as many colorful ethnic costumes but offers a wide variety of agricultural products at reasonable prices. Agricultural products are sold in large quantities at the expansive market. You can buy chili sauce for 20,000 VND per 500ml bottle, shiitake mushrooms for about 250,000 VND per kg, and dried bamboo shoots for 280,000 VND per kg.
The highlight for visitors is the horse meat stew, a specialty of Bac Ha, along with beef and buffalo pho. Horse meat stew costs about 50,000 VND per bowl, while beef and buffalo pho are priced from 20,000 VND per bowl.
A unique feature of Bac Ha pho is the red pho noodles, made from red upland rice, which are actually a light pink color. The noodles are chewy, soft, and still have a rice fragrance. In the always cool weather of Bac Ha, enjoying a bowl of red pho with beef, buffalo, or horse meat is wonderful.
Snacks are also widely available, starting from 5,000 VND for sticky rice, glutinous rice cake, black glutinous rice cake, etc. You can also buy vegetables like green mustard, red radish, white radish, sanchi root, or bamboo shoots for just 10,000 VND per bunch.
Ethnic clothing, brocade fabrics, and handicrafts are sold at various prices. Brocade hats range from 80,000 to 120,000 VND, and shirts from 250,000 to 500,000 VND, depending on the fabric and embroidery.
Bac Ha Temple
Another important spiritual tourist destination is Bac Ha temple. Bac Ha temple is a spiritual space frequently visited by locals and tourists. It currently worships Vũ Văn Mật, who contributed to the defense and livelihood of the border region during the reign of King Le Chieu Tong.
The temple is impressive with its 5-meter-high three-entrance gate. Inside, it houses altars for the three realms of the Mother Goddess, local deities, and the highest Buddha altar. The front faces the market street, and the back faces a small hill, creating a cool and peaceful environment.
Location: DT 153 road, at the central intersection of Bac Ha, Bac Ha, Lao Cai. Entrance is free. Open from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily.
Accommodation in Bac Ha
As a tourist visiting Bac Ha, you can be assured of the accommodation facilities for a convenient experience. The area around the market has many hotels, while Ban Pho has several homestays and communal houses, such as Sen Cường Homestay, Thuận Thanh Homestay, Chez Pa Homestay, Flower Hmong Homestay. These homestays typically have large capacities and can accommodate large vehicles.
Room rental prices at homestay in Bac Ha very cheap.
For a quieter, nature-focused stay away from the market, So H’Mong Homestay is recommended, with prices ranging from 300,000-450,000 VND for a single room, and communal houses costing about 150,000-200,000 VND per person per night./.
Text and photos: Q.Lien
