The biggest livestock market in Lao Cai, before dawn, buffaloes, cows, horses appeared everywhere, too many to count

Chợ gia súc Bắc Hà — Bac Ha buffalo market, Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province – a long-standing “livestock trading floor”. Photo: Seo Sung.

Bac Ha livestock market - the largest "trading floor" for buffalo, cows and horses in Lao Cai

Arriving at the white plateau of Bac Ha, we had the opportunity to see the Bac Ha buffalo market; the alleys leading to the buffalo market were packed with buyers and sellers. Along both sides of the road leading to the market, big, strong buffaloes, cows, and horses were tied in straight rows to be displayed for sale for traders to choose from. On an area of thousands of square meters, there were hundreds of buffaloes sold at different prices, depending on age, weight, shape, quality, etc.

The Bac Ha buffalo market starts early on Friday morning. The market is most bustling from 8am to noon and gradually dissipates from around 3pm. Many households with buffaloes to sell, because their houses are far away, arrive at the market on Thursday evening, while those who live closer leave at 4am to be on time for the market.

The road to Bac Ha buffalo market is now easy and convenient. From Lao Cai city, you can follow National Highway 70 or Lao Cai - Noi Bai Expressway, then turn onto Provincial Road 153, go about 30km more to reach Bac Ha town.

Mr. Sung Seo Chong, Ban Pho commune, Bac Ha district (Lao Cai) is over 60 years old this year but is still healthy and agile, leading a male buffalo to the market to sell to traders.

Mr. Chong said: I don't remember when this livestock market started. When I was 7-8 years old, I followed my parents to take buffaloes and cows to the market to sell here.

In 2024, my family sold 10 buffaloes, priced at about 30 million VND/head, earning 300 million VND. Today, I brought one down to sell, I plan to sell it for more than 30 million VND.

According to Mr. Chong, in the past, when buffalo and cow prices were high, people in the highlands were very excited. If they could sell their buffalo and cows, they would have a warm and prosperous Tet, and have money to buy new clothes, buy sandals, etc. to go out during Tet.

Mr. Vu Seo Sung, also from Ban Pho commune, Bac Ha district (Lao Cai), shared: Today, coming to the livestock market, my family brought 2 male buffaloes that have been raised for 2 years and 6 years to sell for money to celebrate Tet. These 2 buffaloes of mine are being sold for 30 and 55 million VND respectively. The big one has a trader offering 51 million VND but I don't want to sell it yet, I have to get 54-55 million VND before I sell it.

“Since I was little, I went to this market with my parents to sell buffaloes and cows. When I grew up and got married, I raised buffaloes and took them to the market to sell to traders. The Bac Ha town cattle market is one of the markets with a long tradition.

Later, there were also markets in Lung Phinh commune (Bac Ha) and Can Cau commune, Simacai district. When the market day came, we would take them there to sell to traders. In 2024, my family sold more than 10 buffaloes, earning about 600 million VND," said Mr. Vu Seo Sung.

According to people in Bac Ha district, many people come to the Bac Ha town livestock market not only to sell buffaloes, cows, horses... but also to buy smaller buffaloes to raise for 2-3 more years before selling or to buy thinner ones to fatten.

Each market session has hundreds of buffaloes and cows bought and sold at the market; from buffaloes and cows used for breeding, plowing, to even large ones for meat.

The livestock market is opened right next to Bac Ha market, so many people come from all the highland villages of Lao Cai province and other provinces to visit and have fun.

Mr. Vang Tu Oanh, Head of the Bac Ha Market Cultural Management Board, Bac Ha District (Lao Cai) said: The Bac Ha town livestock market has existed for a long time. In previous years, people went to the market mainly spontaneously without specific market regulations.

By 2010, when the Bac Ha Market Cultural Management Board was established, the Market Cultural Management Board regularly promoted environmental sanitation and security and order to people participating in the livestock trading market.

On the days of the livestock market, after the market closes, the Bac Ha Market Cultural Management Board coordinates with the Bac Ha Urban Environment Company to clean up and collect cow and buffalo manure for households who need to use it as fertilizer for their plants.

How to choose good buffalo at Bac Ha cattle market

According to long-time buffalo traders, to choose a good buffalo, you must know how to choose and consult many people. Big, strong, muscular buffaloes with shiny black bodies, towering postures, and sharp, crooked horns are chosen by many people.

Traders who look at buffaloes always pry open their mouths to count their teeth to determine their age. Then they look at their shoulders, hips, groin, etc. A beautiful buffalo must first be young, so it can continue to grow. Then the shoulders and hips must be wide, and the hair smooth, etc.

Mr. Lau A Sung from Thai Giang Pho commune, Bac Ha district (Lao Cai) said: Choosing a good, healthy buffalo is still the number one priority of many people when coming to Bac Ha cattle market. Every buyer looks at the buffalo very carefully and also checks to see if the buffalo has changed teeth or hair to guess its age and health.

Bac Ha cattle market is a gathering place for dozens of traders from all over the northern provinces. The atmosphere of buying and selling buffaloes is bustling from early morning. In addition to buying and selling buffaloes, the market also has dozens of cows, horses, etc. from villagers in neighboring areas brought here to buy, sell and exchange.

The closer it gets to noon, the more crowded the market becomes. However, not everyone comes to the market to buy and sell buffaloes. For the highlanders, the buffalo market is also a place for them to meet, exchange and share experiences in raising animals. All of this creates a colorful picture of this highland buffalo market.

Located halfway up the central slope of Bac Ha town, the buffalo market lasts until past noon. When the traders have gathered enough buffaloes and herded them onto their cars, the locals also take the opportunity to buy the necessary items and then take the buffaloes, cows, and horses that have not been traded back to the village.

Whether they sell or not, cattle owners do not feel sad when coming to Bac Ha market. They consider this an opportunity to show off their cattle to others. It is like a form of buffalo and cattle exhibition in the middle of a special market in the Northwest highlands.

Mr. Vang Tu Oanh, Head of the Bac Ha Market Cultural Management Board, Bac Ha District, added: Bac Ha town’s livestock market has become a place for trading and consuming livestock products for local people as well as other localities. From there, it has contributed to increasing income and creating jobs for livestock farmers...

Bac Ha livestock market still retains the wild and pure features of a highland market. The market not only creates jobs and increases income for local people but also becomes a typical beauty of the "White Plateau" land in the middle of the Northwest mountains and forests.

Source: https://danviet.vn/cho-dai-gia-suc-lon-nhat-lao-cai-troi-chua-sang-xuat-hien-la-liet-trau-bo-ngua-diem-danh-cha-xue-20241124165742852.htm