Weekend colors at Hop Thanh - Ta Phoi Highland Cultural Market
The Hop Thanh - Ta Phoi highland cultural market (now in Hop Thanh commune) is not only a place for trading goods but also a colorful cultural meeting place, clearly showing the identity of the ethnic minorities in the highlands. The market is held every Sunday, attracting a large number of locals and tourists, especially people from neighboring wards such as Cam Duong, Lao Cai to buy, sell and exchange.
Báo Lào Cai•19/10/2025
Hop Thanh - Ta Phoi highland cultural market is bustling from dawn every Sunday. People and vehicles flock here, bringing with them the breath of the mountains and forests and the simplicity of mountain life. This place is not only a bustling trading point but also a unique cultural exchange space of the suburban area of the old Lao Cai city. The market is planned on an area of over 4,000 m², including a main market with a spacious roof and separate business areas, creating convenience for shopping and sightseeing. Agricultural products are planted and harvested by farmers in Hop Thanh commune and neighboring areas. Bundles of vegetables, chayote, potatoes, pumpkins... are still covered in dew, fresh and clean, attracting buyers. Hop Thanh - Ta Phoi highland cultural market is an attractive destination for tourists who want to explore indigenous culture, experience life and highland cuisine near the center of the old Lao Cai city.
Many precious medicinal plants such as lingzhi mushroom, Panax pseudoginseng, dried blood grass are sold at the market. Like many other highland markets, the buying and selling of precious medicinal plants here takes place honestly, with little haggling, creating trust for tourists and buyers. The area selling precious medicinal plants is not only a place for trading but also a place to preserve precious folk medicine knowledge of the ethnic minorities in the highlands. The vibrant colors of brocade from the traditional costumes of ethnic groups add to the beauty of the market. In addition to costumes, there are also items such as fabrics and hand-embroidered strings. On market days, ethnic people often wear traditional costumes, creating a brilliant and colorful space. The area displaying daily life items at Hop Thanh - Ta Phoi Highland Cultural Market creates an essential and colorful trading corner, where Mong people's hand-forged products such as knives, hoes, plow blades... along with consumer goods from the lowlands such as ceramic bowls and plates, household plastic items and basic necessities... are sold, fully meeting the daily needs of the people.
The highlight of the culinary space is the cake selling area - where traditional cakes such as hump-shaped banh chung, corn cakes, sticky rice cakes, roasted rice cakes and especially black banh chung made from ash powder of the núc nác tree. All are processed by the skillful hands of the women and mothers of the Giay and Dao ethnic groups, preserving the traditional flavor of the highland identity. The market is a meeting and trading place for ethnic minorities such as Mong, Dao, Giay, Tay, Xa Pho from the highland villages of Hop Thanh commune and neighboring areas. The market plays an important role in promoting agricultural production, helping highland people consume products, creating jobs and increasing income, contributing to hunger eradication and poverty reduction. People come to the market not only to buy and sell but also to experience the unique cultural features of the ethnic groups here. In the fall, Com is a famous specialty of the Tay people and other ethnic groups sold at the market. This is not only a rustic gift but also a 3-star OCOP recognized product, attracting both locals and tourists to buy as souvenirs. Hop Thanh commune also organizes the annual Com Festival to honor traditional crafts and promote community tourism.
By midday, when the highland sunlight began to beat down harshly, the market gradually came to an end. For many people, being present at the Hop Thanh - Ta Phoi Highland Cultural Market on Sunday was an unforgettable memory, because they had bought essential items, farming tools, and rare products after a meaningful morning of trading, experiencing and cultural exchange.
Báo Lào Cai•19/10/2025
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