Bac Ha market in the early days of New Year
Bac Ha market is located approximately 76km away from the centre of Lao Cai province. Tourists can travel by car to the market which is held every Sunday. The first market session of 2023 takes place on January 1 which coincides with New Year celebrations. A couple from Hanoi spends their New Year holiday exploring Bac Ha market for the first time. Nhung, a resident of Hanoi, shares that she’s fascinated with images of ethnic children donning colourful costumes. Ethnic H’Mong couples go shopping at the market from early in the morning to purchase decorative items for their houses in 2023. Lam Thi Yen, a trader in Bac Ha market, says the number of visitors on January 1 is double that of normal days as both locals and tourists seek items for a good year ahead. Traditional dishes are available, including pho and thang co, a type of horse meat, which attracts plenty of visitors. A H’Mong girl sells Khen, a traditional