Bac Ha market is vibrant with the colors of spring in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year).

TPO - In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, Bac Ha market (Lao Cai) enters its busiest time of the year. From dawn until the sun rises, people from the villages flock to the market, bringing agricultural products, peach blossoms, banana leaves, livestock, etc., creating a vibrant and colorful picture of the highlands, imbued with the spirit of spring.

Nestled amidst the white plateau, Bac Ha market has long been considered one of the most distinctive highland markets in Northwest Vietnam. Especially during the period leading up to the Lunar New Year, the market is even more bustling than other markets throughout the year.

Inside the market, the stalls selling thang co (a traditional Vietnamese stew) are filled with the characteristic aroma of steaming broth, becoming a familiar stop for locals and tourists alike in the cold weather.

More than just a place for exchanging goods and buying and selling livestock and agricultural products, the market is also a space for cultural exchange among many ethnic groups such as the Hmong, Dao, Tay, and Nung…

Not far from the livestock area, women of various ethnic groups, dressed in vibrant traditional costumes, sell broomsticks, brocade fabrics, agricultural products, and more.

The market in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year) always attracts a large number of locals and tourists who come to visit and shop.

The blend of cultural colors creates a unique look for the highland markets during Tet (Lunar New Year).

More than just a place for exchanging goods, the market also reflects daily life. A small corner of the market features a mobile barbershop.

Bundles of fresh green banana leaves are carried down to the market; they are an indispensable ingredient for wrapping banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) during Tet (Lunar New Year).

Wild peach blossoms display their beauty at the Bac Ha market.

Carefully selected peach blossom branches are brought home by people to decorate their houses, carrying with them hopes for a prosperous new year.

The vibrant pink of peach blossoms and the white of plum blossoms paint a vivid spring scene amidst the mountains and forests of Northwest Vietnam – where the market fair is not only a space for trade but also a unique cultural meeting point for the highlanders every time Tet (Lunar New Year) and spring arrive.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/cho-phien-bac-ha-ruc-ro-sac-xuan-nhung-ngay-giap-tet-post1820091.tpo