Colorful market in Y Ty border area

Y Ty is a commune bordering China in Bat Xat district, about 70 km from Lao Cai city center. Located at an altitude of more than 2,000 m above sea level, Y Ty is famous among tourists for its "specialty" of thick, white clouds.

Like other highland communes, Y Ty people hold a market once a week on Saturday in the commune center. Y Ty market is a gathering place for ethnic minorities in Bat Xat district, of which the Ha Nhi ethnic group is the majority, followed by the Mong and Giay ethnic groups.

To get to the market, many people from far away have to carry their goods on their backs, departing at 2-3am in the cold rain, walking a long distance through the forest, wading through streams to get there. In the cold season, the market opens later than in the summer and starts to get crowded around 7-8am, said Mr. Bach Hai Hoang, owner of a homestay in the area.

Nguyen Tran Hieu, 28 years old, Ho Chi Minh City, came to Y Ty market during his trip to the Northwest from January 17. For him, Y Ty market is not as big as Meo Vac, Ha Giang, but has its own attractions. At the end of the year, people come to shop and prepare for the new year, "the atmosphere is bustling, the sellers and buyers are all smiling and excited".

The market is divided into 4 areas selling 4 main items: traditional costumes, cuisine , agricultural products outdoors and warm clothes, everyday clothes indoors.

The colorful handmade brocade dresses, shirts, and scarves displayed in the market are what impress visitors. Traditional costumes not only demonstrate the skillful and meticulous craftsmanship of the people but also show the multiculturalism of the ethnic groups.

Mr. Hieu bought two Dao scarves as souvenirs for 25,000 VND each.

Walking around the market, visitors can see the diversity and differences in the culture of each ethnic group.

The Ha Nhi people's costumes (pictured) are often recognizable with blue, black or indigo tones, while the Mong people's costumes are more eye-catching with bright colors. The Mong people's jewelry is also more detailed, while the Dao people mainly use silver bracelets with engraved patterns on the surface.

The most prominent place in the market is the stall selling fabrics, clothes, accessories, and traditional items of the Ha Nhi, Mong, and Giay ethnic groups in Bat Xat district. This area attracts women to come shopping for beauty products.

People bring to the market to sell their own farm produce such as chickens and pigs; vegetables, tubers, fruits; cooking spices; farming tools; and some herbs such as Gynostemma pentaphyllum and Hoang Sin Co ginseng.

But the specialty of Y Ty market must include wild vegetables picked by locals and brought to the market such as angelica, pa phi vegetables, fern and fresh cardamom.

Fried cakes (pictured), flower cakes, and jelly are popular at the market and sell very well. Fried cakes cost 2,000 VND each, while vermicelli and pho cost 30,000 VND for a full bowl, with vegetables and meat, Mr. Hieu said.

Located far from the center of Lao Cai city, not many tourists come to Y Ty market, especially when it is cold and foggy, the roads are muddy. The peak season for tourism in Y Ty is September when the rice is ripe, October and November when the clouds are hunted, and after Tet, Mr. Hoang added.

On the contrary, Mr. Hieu finds it interesting to visit the Y Ty market in winter. In addition to learning and experiencing the daily life of the people through the market, visitors can feel the difficulties and hardships of making a living of the highland people here.

In addition to the purpose of buying and selling goods, Y Ty market is also a place where people come to exchange, visit relatives, and share experiences in work and production.

The market has become a unique cultural feature, deeply rooted in the lives of the people of Y Ty. Children in the highlands often follow their parents and grandparents to the market from a young age.

TB (according to VnExpress)

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