Shopping in Sapa
Sapa Market
Location: Sapa Town, Lao Cai province
Time:
Saturday night every week
This is the kermis of the Dao and H’mong ethnic minority group where people gather together to exchange, sell and purchase many kinds of commodities, local products. Sapa market is a unique cultural and economic activity since it would provide you a deeper understanding on the H’mong and Dao’s culture and lifestyle. This is an opportunity for local people, especially the youth, to meet and get to know about each other through exciting songs for courting, through flute tune, khèn, đàn môi (some local musical instruments).
In the afternoon, you will find small groups of Dao and H’mong boys and girls
gathering together and glancing at each other. Then when the evening comes, they
seat together under the light-yellowed lights singing and talking with each
other all night long. When they have found their soul-mates, they give each
other a memorable souvenir and promise to meet again in the next kermis. This
cultural activity dated back to long time ago and still preserved until now.
Sapa market is especially useful for visitors who are interested in cultural
activities of ethnic minority groups in Vietnam.
Location: Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province, 60km from Lao Cai city and is
considered the largest kermis in the mountainous highland of the frontier
regions.
Coming to
this market, you can freely choose various kinds of brocatelle and feast your
eyes with colorful clothing of H’mong and Red Dao girls. Foreign tourists often
show their admiration for handmade pictures with vivid vignettes, harmonious
beautiful colors. You will also have chance to enjoy the special wine of H’mong
people in Pho village which is well-known for the typical strength and intense
taste. The horse-selling area attract mainly men who come from remote villages,
even from other provinces like Bac Giang, Ha Tay… do come here to purchase
horses.
Visiting
Bac Ha market, you will not be invited consistently to buy their products,
instead, you will find that people there are very friendly in traditional
colorful clothes. They come to the kermis not only for business purpose, but
also for entertaining, getting acquaintance with people there. In the afternoon,
when people visiting the market start to scatter, you will catch the sight of a
drunk man unsteadily riding on the horse’s back and the woman take the horse
back to the village, such image will last long in your mind as an unforgettable
moment.
Coc
Ly Market
Coc Ly
market is often situated by the suspension bridge which across the Chảy River.
This market is not a large one but it is very important to ethnic minority
groups in the west of Bac Ha district. The market takes place once week on
Tuesdays. This is the place for the Flower H’mong, Black Dao and Nung to meet
and exchange goods. Like other highland kermises, you can find all kinds of
products at Coc Ly market from local products to commodities taken from the
lowlands or from China. Ethnic people coming to this kermis not only to purchase
goods, but also to dine, meet others and get acquaintance and find new friends.
In the market, there are different separate areas like the site for selling
buffalo, horse, fruits, foods, etc.
Mentioned above are several major kermises which take place in or near Sapa. If you have interest in exploring more about the rites of ethnic minority groups there, try to visit these markets and many other markets near Sapa. Your knowledge of Vietnam culture in general and ethnic minority groups in particular will surely be improved once you have set foot to this remote mountainous region.
Sapa Budget Tours
- Sapa Day Tours - Sapa Day Excursions - Day Trips Sapa Vietnam
- Sapa Walk and Bac ha Market
- Sapa Hard Trekking Two
- Sapa Hard Trekking One
- Sapa Medium Trek Two
- Sapa Medium Trek
Sapa Trekking and Adventures
- Fansipan peak conquering VIP tour (3 days - 2 nights)
- Fansipan peak conquering VIP tour (2 days - 1 nights)
- Fansipan peak conquering Deluxe tour (4 days - 3 nights)
- Fansipan peak conquering Deluxe tour (3 days - 2 nights)
- Fansipan peak conquering Deluxe tour (2 days - 1 nights)
- Fansipan peak conquering Standard tour (4 days - 3 nights)
Sapa Cycling Options
- Sapa - Binh Lu - Lai Chau(with biking)
- Sapa - Lao Chai - Ta Van - Ban Ho
- Sapa Biking Tour - Ban Ho Village
- Sapa Biking Tour - Binh Lu - Lai Chau
- SaPa - Bac Ha Market with biking
- Pedalling The Remote Sapa\'s Northwest
Sapa Luxury Holidays
Traditional Minority Discovery Packages
- Green Sapa bus (Hanoi – Sapa)
- Eco Sapa Limousine Van (Hanoi – Sapa)
- Private car Hanoi Sapa
- Hanoi Sapa Private Cabin bus
- Coc Ly market with boat trip
- Cao Son market -boat trip on Chay river- Sapa Tours
Sapa Classic Trips
Northern Mountain Discovery Packages
Topas Ecolodge Sapa tours
- Topas Ecolodge and Market Package 3D/4N
- Topas Ecolodge and Market Package-2D/3N
- Topas Ecolodge and Victoria Sapa Package – 4D/5N
- Topas Ecolodge and Victoria Sapa Package – 3D/4N
- Topas Ecolodge Package – 3D/4N
- Topas Ecolodge Package 2D/3N