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Bac Ha Destination
Bac Ha is
truly a destination of adventure and hill tribe markets. The region is
really famed for its beautiful rugged karst mountain range, exotic
cultures and green development. This is home to 10 Montagnard groups :
the colourful Flower H’mong are the most visible, but other groups
include Dzao, Giay (Nhang), Han (Hoa), Xa Fang, Lachi, Nung, Phula ...
One of
Bac Ha’s main industries is the manufacture of alcoholic home brews
(rice wine, cassava wine and corn liquor). The corn hooch produced by
the Flower H’mong is so potent it can ignite! Bac Ha is the only place
in Vietnam where you’ll find this particular moonshine; there’s an
entire area devoted to it at the Sunday market. Swill some down before
deciding whether to buy a buffalo or cow.
Bac Ha Market
Bac Ha
market is well-known for its naturally sub-tropical scenery. Tam Hoa
plums are really a local specialty: sweet and fresh. This seems to be
created by its own land, people and nature.
Average
temperature here is 19°C and it's not so cold as in Sa Pa. Bac Ha is
specifically identified by each mount, each house and naturally-made
carpet of white plum-flowers in spring. There are 14 ethnic minorities
and the Mong ethnics count for 47% then the Dao, Tay, Nung, Phu La...
Mountaineers take care of their horses as their properties, means of
transport and close friends.
Besides
plums, Bac Ha is reputed for its alcohol (made of maize). Maize is grown
on high mountains, its low in productivity but high in nutrition. To
make alcohol, it's fermented with Hong My seed (the local only plant).
Bac Ha alcohol is well-known due to its source of water. So it's surely
believed never to have faulted one in Bac Ha market. Visitors can see
the locals selling their own alcohol without feelings to be cheated.
Brocades
are for sales in the market or in shops or by street-vendors. There are
hand-made or manufactured products. It takes a village-girl even half a
month to make a brocade of 20cm long. Their skirts or costumes cost them
long time to make. Their dresses express their patience, skills.
Visitors can see the girls making brocades right in the market.
Traditional values and identities are well-maintained in the market.
Such markets as Bac Ha, Coc Ly have really become rendezvous for
visitors at home and abroad. There is almost no bargaining or
competition here. Sales girls look quite naive, sincere. They go to the
market mainly to meet people and exchange funs. Especially, there is a
horse market in town-centre, each market-day there are almost 100 - 200
horses for sales or exchange.
Mong or
Tay or Dao ethnics’ minority girls and boys, with their best dresses on,
go to the market to relax and meet their friends. At sunset, they leave
with a promise to see again.
Visitors
to Bac Ha are opportune to understand the local traditions and customs,
taste local specialties, meet nice people and know a land code-named:
white plateau.
Bac Ha
Hotels
Bac Ha Tours
Bac Ha Photos Gallery
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