Buzz
Exploring highland markets will be one of the exciting experiences on your journey to the Northwestern region.
Pha Long Market
Pha Long Market is located in the border area of Pha Long commune, Mường Khương district, Lào Cai province. The name Pha Long originates from the Hmong language, meaning big dragon or big market. The market serves as the trading hub for the residents of Pha Long, Dìn Chin, Tả Ngải Chồ, Tả Gia Khâu villages, etc. The market is usually bustling and convenes every Saturday.
A diverse range of goods are sold here, from corn, rice, and soybeans to various household items. However, the most famous are Sa Pa specialties such as fragrant and delicious Séng Cù rice, and two indispensable items for the Mường Khương people: chili and sugarcane.
Among them, the ethnic handicrafts section is the liveliest and most bustling. These products are often brightly colored, serving as embellishments and enhancing the attractiveness of highland market destinations.
Following the handicraft stalls are the food stalls, offering many unique Sa Pa specialties such as: thắng cố (a kind of cake), bánh dầy (sticky rice cake), Cốc Ngù wine, black pork - a famous delicacy of Mường Khương...
Especially, Pha Long market is famous for Gầu Tào - one of the renowned Sa Pa festivals held annually from the 2nd to the 5th day of the Lunar New Year.
Chậu Market
Chậu Market is one of the oldest historical markets in Mường Khương. Established in the 19th century, it used to be a renowned trading center in the Eastern Thuy Vi region, often held on Fridays. If you have the chance to travel to Sa Pa, you should explore this unique market.
Here, you will encounter various ethnic groups gathering, including the Hmong, Lô Lô, Tày, Nùng, Giáy... Colorful traditional costumes, and the open umbrellas of young girls contribute vibrant colors, creating a lively and attractive picture of the highland market.
Similar to other highland markets, Chậu Market also sells all kinds of products from the Northwest mountains and forests, from rice, corn, and cassava... to specialties such as sour bamboo shoots, honey, traditional medicine, and lao liquor...
When visiting the tourist destination Chậu Market, besides shopping for goods, tourists can also explore the majestic Mường Khương with many ethnic cultural traditions that are still preserved to this day.
Y Ty Market
Y Ty Market is located in Y Ty commune, Bát Xát district, Lào Cai province. With its rustic and simple appearance, Y Ty Market is considered by locals as the place that best showcases the unique traditional cultures of the local ethnic groups.
This market is usually held on Saturdays. Here, tourists have the opportunity to observe the vivid picture of the daily life of people in the highland areas.
You can witness images of Hà Nhì women with their three-leaf hats and synthetic hairpieces wrapped around their heads in vibrant colors or Mông girls wearing flared dresses or colorful peacock feather scarves on the heads of Dao ethnic women. Each ethnic group has its own style of clothing, headgear, and jewelry, contributing to the colorful palette of Ý Tý.
The goods sold at the market are usually agricultural products from local farmers or handmade ethnic handicrafts. Nestled peacefully beside Mount Nhiu Cồ San, this characteristic market is an attractive tourist destination in Sa Pa for travelers exploring the highlands of Ý Tý.
Lùng Phình Market
Lùng Phình Market is located right next to Highway 153 - a remote road connecting Bac Ha town to the border town of Si Ma Cai (Lào Cai province). The market usually convenes every Sunday, serving as the trading hub for the ethnic communities in the border area.
From a distance, the scene of Lùng Phình market is truly beautiful and lively. Early in the morning, while the branches are still dewy, groups of H'Mong, Chinese, Giay, Tay, Phu La people... in their distinctive ethnic costumes from various bustling villages converge on the market: some on foot, some on horseback, carrying handmade products, agricultural produce, and livestock...
Within the market, goods are divided into separate sections such as the food area, ethnic liquor, livestock, handicrafts, and agricultural produce...
Visiting Lùng Phình market, aside from sightseeing and shopping, tourists also have the opportunity to explore the cultural identity of the various ethnic groups living in this region.
Especially, tourists will have the chance to participate in the cultural exchange festival where young men and women from nearby and distant villages gather.
Pha Long Market, Chậu Market, Y Ty Market, and Lùng Phình Market are four renowned market areas in Lào Cai tourist destinations. Visiting these places, you will discover and understand the cultural diversity of the ethnic minorities here.
