The bustling Sín Chéng market

Si Ma Cai, located upstream of the Chay River, is famous for its bustling markets such as Can Cau Market, Si Ma Cai Market, and Sin Cheng Market. Among them, Sin Cheng Market is the furthest market and still retains the simple, pristine, and vibrant cultural characteristics of a highland market in Northwest Vietnam.

The Sin Cheng market is located in Sin Cheng commune, Lao Cai province. Previously, the Sin Cheng market's infrastructure was inadequate, but now it has been invested in and built to be spacious and convenient for people to buy, sell, and exchange goods.

The Sín Chéng market is held every Wednesday. From early morning, people from villages and hamlets in Sín Chéng commune and other communes such as Pha Long, Si Ma Cai, Lùng Phình, Bắc Hà… come to the market to socialize and trade.

In the upstream region of the Chay River, the Mong people are the majority. At each market day, the Mong and other ethnic groups usually bring many kinds of agricultural products produced by their families to sell at the market, mainly vegetables, roots, and fruits.

An elderly Hmong woman stands by her stall selling dried chili peppers and chili powder. For the people of this highland region, chili peppers are an indispensable spice in their daily meals.

At the Sin Cheng market during the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, the busiest and most vibrant area is the stalls selling brocade fabrics. People from various ethnic groups bring their newly embroidered brocade skirts and shirts to the market to sell.

During this time, families often go to the market to buy nice clothes for family members to wear when going out to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Mong women in Sin Cheng commune bring bundles of sen tien sticks – a popular musical instrument in the cultural life of the Mong people here – to the market.

In one corner of the market, horn makers display their wooden horns for sale and play them together, creating a lively symphony on market day.

The food court attracts a large number of people who come to enjoy delicious dishes such as pho, thang co (a traditional stew), black chicken, local pork, five-colored sticky rice, etc.

The livestock market creates a unique feature of the Sín Chéng market. Around the Lunar New Year, people come to the market to buy livestock such as pigs, buffaloes, and cows to raise during the new year.

The Sín Chéng market is not only a place for exchanging and buying goods among the highland people, but it also embodies the rich cultural identity of the ethnic groups, making it an attractive tourist destination for exploration and experiences for many visitors.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/ron-rang-cho-phien-sin-cheng-post891955.html