Experience the beauty and liveliness of Sapa’s Bac Ha weekly Market and pay a visit to the scenic Trung Do Village, home of the Tay tribe.
You will start the journey with a relaxing drive. Starting off on a rather flat road, you will be taken to the rural areas of Lao Cai in no time where the path gets slightly bumpy and uneven as you proceed. The drive itself takes a few hours but it will be worth the journey once you arrive in Bac Ha Market and behold the lively marketplace. Since the car cannot take you directly to the entrance of the market, you have to take a short walk before you can enter the market. During your walk, you will be able to share the short time with fellow local residents who will also be walking nearby. Bac Ha is where the Flower Hmong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay and Nung gather every Sunday and marks an important trade and commercial day for the different tribes. They will dress up nicely, not for the tourists like in the town of Sapa though, but for themselves and the vibrant colours of their meticulously embroidered brocade will light up the morning with a sea of colourful attire.
After some time, you will arrive at the market of Bac Ha. Stretched over a wide market area, the market itself is roughly divided into different sections including food, fabric and clothing, farming tools, herbs and vegetables, food and animals. You name it, they have it so now you see why the market is particularly popular amongst the local people. For many of the local people, the animal section is the most fascinating out of the other simply because there are livestock up for sale to help with the fields - their primary source of income. Sometimes, you may also catch a waft of delightful cuisine aroma coming from the food stalls in the market. Be sure to try them out before you move on to another section of the market. Or, if you are looking for a souvenir for your friends and family, do stop by the colourful section of the clothing section of the market for some beautiful attire you can purchase.
Then, stop for a quick lunch and a short rest as you restore your lost energy before continuing your journey to Trung Do Village, home of the Tay tribe. Situated next to Chay river, the village offers you a spectacular view of the vast terraced fields, mountains ranges and dense greenery around the village area. If you come to the village during its festival season, do not hesitate to take part in the unique cultural activities, including singing and dancing as you sway your body with the local folks. Even if you do not happen to visit during the festive season, you will still be able to join the local in their daily activity. Help out the villagers with the farming chores, take a look at the traditional houses of the Tay tribe and take a boat trip down Chay river as you sway yourself to the gentle river stream. Should the water level be too low, go on a short trek past the river to the village of the Flower Hmong and take a closer look at the life of the vibrant hillside tribe as you learn more about their culture and custom. Bao Nhai bridge will be your last stop and a car will be waiting to take you back home after a whole day’s fun.
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Refer to the map below to see a list of pick up location(s) that are available for you to choose from. You can select your desired pick up location when you book the tour.
List of Location(s):
Pick up is also available for other location(s) under the vicinity of Sa Pa. For more information, please contact Adventoro's concierge service.
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