Impressions of the Sín Chéng highland market in Lào Cai

Việt Nam•29/07/2024

The Sín Chéng market in Si Ma Cai district, Lao Cai province, is held every Wednesday.

The bustling Sín Chéng market

To get to the Sín Chéng market most conveniently, we chose to travel by personal motorbike from Lào Cai City along National Highway 70 to Bắc Hà town, Bắc Hà district, a distance of over 70 km.

From Bac Ha town, we went straight to the center of Si Ma Cai town. From there, we traveled another 10 km to reach Sin Cheng market.

The Sín Chéng market is located in the center of Sín Chéng commune, Si Ma Cai district, Lao Cai province. The market is held every Wednesday. It is a gathering place for many ethnic minority people from Si Ma Cai district and other districts of Lao Cai province to socialize, exchange goods, and trade.

The brooms are made from sugarcane grown by local people in Si Ma Cai district (Lao Cai province) on their fields and brought to the market to sell.

Right along the road leading to the market, what impressed us were the rather unusual brooms, while inside the market there were so many agricultural products and livestock that the locals were selling.

Of particular note are the nightingales, whose melodious songs attract tourists and bird lovers alike to come and see them.

Nightingales chirp merrily at the Sín Chéng market.

Ms. Giang Thi Mo, from Nan Sin commune, Si Ma Cai district, shared: "The weekly market only meets once a week, so I traveled a long distance from the early morning to get to the market as early as possible."

Today I went to the market and brought some unique brooms, quite elaborately made from local sugarcane stalks grown by the villagers in their rice and corn fields. Each broom costs 50,000 dong, and they're very durable.

Every market day, the villagers gather together to drink corn wine and share stories about their economic endeavors...

According to Mrs. Mo, in this highland region, the reed plant is very rare, so the locals mainly grow sugarcane (called "cua dua" in the Hmong language) to harvest the fibers for making brooms. Making these brooms is quite elaborate, as the handles are woven very carefully, taking about an hour to complete one. Each time she goes to the market, Mrs. Mo sells between 20 and 50 sugarcane brooms.

At the Sin Cheng market, tourists and locals alike can experience the unique cultural beauty of the ethnic groups living there.

The market day is also an opportunity for people to sit together, enjoy a bowl of pho, drink a glass of fragrant corn wine, and share stories about their work, production experiences, and business ventures after many days of hard labor in the fields.

The Hmong ethnic costumes at the market fair reflect the unique cultural identity of the Si Ma Cai highlands.

Visit the Sin Cheng market to enjoy ethnic cuisine .

Besides that, people who travel from early morning to the market also take the opportunity to enjoy men men mixed rice, a traditional dish of the Hmong people dating back to ancient times.

Ms. Sung Thi Sua, from Sin Cheng commune, Si Ma Cai district (Lao Cai province), said: "Mèn mén mixed rice is a favorite characteristic dish of the ethnic minorities in the Si Ma Cai highlands. Especially for us Hmong people, since ancient times when the economy and society were difficult, we mainly ate mèn mén."

With economic development and improved transportation, there's no longer a need to use horses to carry goods to the market like in the old days. However, the dish of "men men" (a type of steamed cornmeal dish) with rice is still indispensable at this market.

In addition, locals and tourists take the opportunity to enjoy local specialties of the highlands such as thang co (a traditional stew) and pho (Vietnamese noodle soup).

Among the standout products at the market are the Hmong traditional clothing and skirts, reflecting the unique identity of the Si Ma Cai highlands. Local agricultural products, grown by the farmers themselves, are also brought to the market for sale during the market day.

These traditional ethnic costumes are embroidered by Hmong women.

Mr. Vang A Vang, Secretary of the Party Committee of Sin Cheng commune, Si Ma Cai district, said: In 2000, after the State invested in the infrastructure of the Sin Cheng commune central market, the Sin Cheng weekly market was opened every Wednesday.

After more than 20 years of operation, Sin Cheng market is not only a place for local people to exchange agricultural products and a meeting place for young men and women bringing their horses to the market, but it has also become an attractive destination for many domestic and international tourists.

According to Mr. Vang A Vang, the Sin Cheng market has many specialties that reflect the unique cultural identity of the local people, such as: areas selling buffaloes, cows, and horses; native black chickens, free-range pigs, native ducks; nightingales; wrinkled chili peppers, long bell peppers; eggplants; various kinds of vegetables and fruits... These are all agricultural products grown and raised by the local people and brought to the market for sale.

The Sín Chéng market is not only a place for local people to exchange goods but also a destination for international tourists.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: "Every time I travel to the Si Ma Cai highlands, I have to visit the Sin Cheng market. This is one of the markets that attracts a large number of locals and tourists. We come here because we want to buy clean agricultural products from the locals to take home as gifts..."

Currently, along with the development of the market economy, in order for the Sin Cheng market to operate effectively, and in conjunction with raising awareness among the people about maintaining environmental hygiene, Sin Cheng commune has established a market management team to regularly inspect and guide people to sell their goods in the designated areas.

The Sín Chéng market is an opportunity for the local people to showcase their ethnic identity through traditional costumes, dishes, and the melodious sounds of flutes... This place has become an attractive destination, leaving many lasting impressions on tourists.

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