We spent one day at the Saturday market in Can Cau, traveling by jeep from
Bac Ha. This was the most interesting market we had ever been to, filled with Flower H’mong wearing extremely colorful outfits. We saw no other tourists at this market, and the local people didn’t approach us trying to sell anything. It also seemed that the prices we were given for goods were the same as the local people were paying.
The market is located in a very scenic valley, with no structures in sight other than the bamboo, thatch, and plastic tarp stalls, and many of the H’mong had walked a full day to reach the market with their goods. Because it is so close to the Chinese border, we noticed some people paying with Chinese money rather than Vietnamese dong.
We purchased a beautiful Flower H’mong outfit along with a couple of other textiles, and wandered around the market for hours looking at all the goods, and watching the people. Thuy, our guide, explained the medicinal uses of some of the herbs that were being sold, and bought us some interesting treats. The market in Can Cau isn’t near any of the larger cities, and is well off the beaten path. It does take some time and effort to get to, but the trip is interesting, and the market is definitely worth the time.
For information on Hotels, Tours, Flights, and Books on Vietnam, check out the pages below:
Hotels in Vietnam - Recommended hotels in Vietnam.
Tours in Vietnam - Recommended tour companies in Vietnam.
Flights to Vietnam - Includes information about our experiences on different airlines we've taken to and from Vietnam.
Books on Vietnam - Excellent books on Vietnam's history, people, and travel.
All Text and Images © AdventureTravelVietnam.com
