A highlight of the Can Cau market is the buying and selling of buffaloes (Illustrative image).
The unique and attractive feature of Can Cau market is its buffalo trading area. Unlike typical markets that only sell agricultural products, brocade, or household goods, Can Cau market is a gathering place for hundreds of buffaloes of all kinds, from calves to healthy adult buffaloes, brought down from the mountains by the locals. The calls of buffaloes and calves, the bargaining of people, and the sounds of flutes and pipes played by ethnic boys and girls create an extremely lively and bustling atmosphere.
The Cán Cấu market is held every Saturday on the slope of Cán Cư Sử. From 6 a.m., hundreds of buffaloes are brought to the market on a large plot of land. The market sells all kinds of buffaloes, including breeding buffaloes, buffaloes for plowing, and buffaloes for meat. Each buffalo, weighing about 300 kg, is sold for 35-40 million VND/animal, calves for 3-5 million VND/animal, beautiful female buffaloes for 8-12 million VND/animal, and meat buffaloes for 6-10 million VND/animal. The market attracts not only H'Mông people but also Nùng, La Chí, Dao, Kinh, and other ethnic groups, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
Here, buffaloes are not only an asset but also a source of draft power in agricultural production. Therefore, buyers are very selective, choosing buffaloes based on their appearance, hooves, horns, teeth, and jaws to ensure they select healthy and satisfactory animals. Transactions are quick but lively, marked by strong handshakes that demonstrate trust and agreement.
Besides buffaloes, Can Cau market is also a place for cultural exchange among ethnic groups. Tourists can encounter colorful traditional costumes of the H'Mong, Dao, Tay, Nung, and others. Stalls sell a variety of goods, from local agricultural products such as mustard greens, bamboo shoots, and shiitake mushrooms to exquisite handicrafts such as brocade bags, silver bracelets, and embroidered scarves.
Besides buffaloes, the Can Cau market also sells agricultural products, brocade fabrics, embroidered scarves, and more.
In addition, the stalls selling typical Northwestern Vietnamese cuisine also captivated tourists. The small eateries, with just a few tables and chairs, attracted many customers. The most popular dishes on a misty Northwestern morning were pho and thang co (a traditional stew). The pho here is different from that in the lowlands; it's made from local upland rice, which is very soft and chewy. Boiled black H'Mong chickens sitting next to the pho pot stimulated the taste buds of visitors.
The Cán Cấu market usually stays open until noon. People lead their buffaloes home hoping to sell them at the next market day, while those who have sold their buffaloes are happy and radiant. After the market closes, the men stop at a roadside stall to enjoy some corn wine and a steaming pot of thang co (a traditional stew). They sit together, chatting and gossiping until dusk before parting ways, promising to meet again at the next market day with joyful hope.
Can Cau Market is not just a simple market, but a vibrant portrayal of the life, culture, and people of the highlands. Visiting Can Cau, tourists not only experience the unique atmosphere of buying and selling but also have the opportunity to learn more about the distinctive traditional culture, simplicity, and hospitality of the local ethnic communities.
The Cán Cư Sử slope is beautiful at sunset. The sounds of people blend with the sounds of the mountains and forests until night falls.
Tran Thai Hoc
Source: https://baolongan.vn/dac-sac-phien-cho-trau-can-cau-a199906.html
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