Visiting the Northwest Market

The landscape of Dien Bien seems to be enveloped in the pristine white of the bauhinia flowers. Bauhinia blossoms bloom from mountaintops and hillsides to the roads leading to the villages. The land and sky seem infused with the fragrance of the flowers, gentle and pure.

When visiting Dien Bien, immerse yourself in the mountain scenery and the pure white blossoms of the ban flower, but don't forget to stop by Phin Ho village, where you can find unique aspects of culture, cuisine , and the vibrant colors of brocade fabrics from the Mong, Kho Mu, and Xa Phang ethnic communities.

From the early morning, while the village was still shrouded in mist, people from all over flocked to the market. Some walked, others rode vehicles. People came from Muong Cha heading north, and from Muong Nha heading south. They brought all kinds of agricultural products; some carried bottles of honey and baskets of wild vegetables and cardamom, while others brought a few chickens or led a pig. They wore vibrant traditional brocade clothing, and many young women carried unique embroidered shoes.

While Dien Bien boasts the pure white blossoms of the Bauhinia flower, March in Lao Cai is equally enchanting with its hills covered in delicate white pear blossoms, creating a truly beautiful and captivating landscape. Visitors to Sapa or Bac Ha at this time will experience the fresh air and the gentle fragrance of the vast pear orchards. This is also a wonderful opportunity to explore the culture of the local people through their traditional festivals and rituals.

And if you visit Lao Cai on a Sunday, don't forget to stop by Bac Ha market, as it's held only once a week. This is one of the rare markets that still retains the pristine cultural characteristics of the ethnic minorities in Northwest Vietnam. It's also the only market in Vietnam to be included in the top 10 most attractive markets in Southeast Asia, as voted by Serendib travel magazine (Sri Lanka).

Besides buying and selling goods, people come here to the market as a day to meet, chat, eat, and relax after a hard week. The most familiar sight at the market is probably the bubbling pot of thang co (a traditional stew), its enticing aroma inviting them in. In the chilly mountain air, a bowl of thang co with a glass of fragrant corn wine seems to ward off the cold and entice people to linger a little longer…

Besides thang co (a traditional stew), Bac Ha market also offers pho hong (a type of noodle soup) prepared in various ways to suit different tastes, such as mixed pho, pho with broth, and pho rolls. Among these, mixed pho (also known as sour pho) is the most popular, contributing to the culinary brand of Bac Ha.

For those who love the highlands of Northwest Vietnam, the Sin Suoi Ho market (Phong Tho district, Lai Chau province) is a must-visit destination to explore the cultural beauty of the local people. Located about 30 km from Lai Chau city, Sin Suoi Ho village offers visitors the opportunity to admire a picturesque valley nestled among the mountains and forests, and to experience the busiest market in Lai Chau – the Sin Suoi Ho market, held every Saturday morning in the heart of the district, with many exciting activities.

For example, the market's floor is paved with stones taken from the foot of Son Bac May mountain, and the stalls are made entirely of wood and thatched with leaves, giving tourists a feeling of closeness to nature. Mong women sit selling traditional clothing, their hands nimbly embroidering, occasionally smiling charmingly. The scenery and people here feel incredibly peaceful and poetic.

daidoanket.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/di-cho-phien-tay-bac-post399475.html