A border province and official Frontier Area, Ha Giang lies in the remote far northern region of the country. To visit this province is to journey back in time and encounter some of Vietnam’s most rugged and grand landscapes. Ha Giang is best experienced as a road trip on two wheels, soaking up the majesty of the landscape and the atmosphere of the remote towns and minority villages.

Meo Vac Sunday Market

Photo: Vo Minh Thien

When talking about Ha Giang, a lot of travelers will think about the majestic and breathtaking beauty of nature. Meo Vac Market is located in the center of Meo Vac town and is the largest market in Ha Giang province, where people from villages all around Meo Vac come to trade and socialize. It takes place every Sunday. On this day, the people of the Mong, Dao, and Lo Lo ethnic groups not only buy, sell and exchange goods, but also consider this an opportunity to gather around and share the cultural values of other people and tourists from all around the country. Many of them even have to walk for kilometers and some arrive the night before when the local bars get fuller and the karaoke places noisier.

Photo: Vo Minh Thien

Already around 5 am in the morning the market will start on the streets around the indoor market. You can see clothes, clothes, rice, kitchen items, corn wine, and even stalls selling cell phones, from fairly old to modern smartphones. The best way to explore is just to walk by or stand at one of the stalls and observe what they are doing. You can even try to bargain at one of the stalls where they sell local minority stuff, that you could use as a souvenir.

At the end of Meo Vac market is a huge cattle market, where you can find hundreds of buffaloes and cows from the plateau, including the famous indigenous Lung Pu goats and pigs. There are also chickens, ducks, and even puppies that are sold along the street. Not all people sell their cows, dogs, or pigs on the market; some just bring them to show.

Photo: Vo Minh Thien

If you want to visit the Meo Vac market in Ha Giang it is best to be in Meo Vac the night before for an overnight stay. The market starts at 6 am in the morning and after 10 am it starts to get quieter. If you want to see the market in full glory, it’s best to go to the market between 7 am and 8 am.

Photo: Vo Minh Thien

Ma Le Market

Ma Le Commune is located in Dong Van District, about 12 km from the town. Ma Le Market takes place once a week every Saturday, from early in the morning till late in the evening. Not as well known as the Dong Van market, Ma Le still retains the inherent simplicity of a country market. Besides, the colors on the costumes of the Giay, Pu Peo, or the Mong, Tay, Nung, Dao, and Lo Lo ethnic groups also contribute to the brilliance and joy of the market. Aside from selling goods, this market also has a large section where you can find some of the most delicious traditional dishes such as cornbreads, buckwheat cakes, Men Men, and Thang Co that will warm your stomach on a cold morning.

Photo: Vo Minh Thien

The stalls sell all the essentials, from seasoning packs to instant noodles and snacks for the kids. Breakfast includes thang co, shrimp noodles with wine sauce, and cassava in baskets.

Ma Le market is just as simple and idyllic as the lives of the people in this highland. In the past few years, when the northernmost part of Lung Cu became a favorite destination for young people, Ma Le market became more famous and loved by many tourists from all over Vietnam. Year-end is the time when ethnic communities in the northern highlands harvest buckwheat, a type of grain commonly used to make cakes and wine.

Photo: Vo Minh Thien

Unlike the famous Dong Van Market, Ma Le Market is lesser-known to tourists and is held in a large area overlooking corn fields and surrounded by rugged rocks.

How to get to Ha Giang

Photo: Vo Minh Thien

The small city of Ha Giang is the gateway to the province and is approximately 300km from Hanoi. Buses run day and night from the capital, ranging from sleepers to smaller VIP mini-vans. Depending on the vehicle and driver, the journey there takes around six hours. Public transport around Ha Giang Province is limited. Experienced drivers can rent a motorcycle in town. Another option is to book a tour either on the back of a motorbike or by private car.

Ha Giang Weather

Photo: Vo Minh Thien

September through November is a good time to visit this remote province, with cooler temperatures. In November, Ha Giang is hugely popular during the Buckwheat Flower Festival. April to June is pleasant and warm, July and August can be very hot with regular monsoons.

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