We got off the train, met up with our guide and headed for the weekly Bac Ha Market a short distance from Lao Cai. Our guide, named Viet is really good. So should anyone intend to plan a trip up Sapa, you can get his contact from me. Bac Ha and Sapa are really beautiful places with breath taking scenery and vast padi fields. It was unfortunate that we are visiting Sapa during its raining season, however, intermittent rainfall aside, we still had loads of fun and would certainly like to go back!
Bac Ha is the home of the Flower H’mong people. The differentiating element for the Ethnic tribes lies in their dressing. Flower H’mong got their name from the brightly colored garb they don. Flower H’mongs live in Bac Ha, whereas the Black H’mong resides at Sapa.
Once a week, the Flower H’mong make their way to Bac Ha market, some walking up to 2 days. Along the ride up the hill, we came across little girls herding their cattle to Bac Ha and groups of Flower H’mong carrying their crops to the market. The market place is bustling with people. There are 5 main sections of the market – Eating Area, Wet Market, Dry goods market, Arts & Crafts and Livestock.
Eating Area – Selling Pho, Horse Meat Stew, Homemade Rice Wine (50 – 55% Alcohol!)
Flower H'mong having a hearty lunch
Wet Market – Fresh Fish and Meat.
Dry Goods Market – Dried goods, Vegetables and fruits, Herbs etc.
Home-made Incense - ingredients include corn, sticky rice etc
Arts & Crafts Market – Craft materials like yarn, ribbons and cloth, and intricate crafts made by the Flower H’mong
Flower H'mong style soft-toys
Livestock – Trading of small farm animals like ducks, chickens, piglets to larger livestock like cows and horses.
Trading Horses and Ox
We walked around Bac Ha after lunch, visiting the old colonial government building, a nearby Bac Ha village and their village school before heading to Lao Cai, Border Gate and off to Sapa.
