Sin Cheng market tour - Full Day

On Wednesday morning, started at 8.30am from Bac Ha to Sin Cheng market, it takes us about 1.30 hour.Openned only one times each week from 9.00am to 1.30pm. This market which is in the border area is far 40km frorm Bac Ha (in Si Ma Cai district) so just few people know this place. . The market is almost untouched by the modern life. Where you will be surprised by the way of living of the people here that you can find nowhere in the modern world. After the market we come back to Bac Ha for lunch. And then we go to visit some villages of the Mong and Tay ethnic minorities around Bac Ha town about 2 hours. One of the very authentic markets in the Northwest of Vietnam operating on Wednesday called Xin Cheng that offers a special visit and an unique experience.

An early departure from Sapa or Lao Cai station to Bac Ha, along the Vietnam-China border line, you can enjoy amazing mountain sceneries with minority’s activities, dotted with corn, terraced rice fields and charming river… The road leads you to Xin Cheng, a colorful market, opened up ahead; in here, the special market for Flower H’Mong, Tay, Giay and the other people around the area who come to trade and exchange local products like tobacco, clothes, fruits, horses, buffaloes..etc. The market itself is also a place for the young to meet or find their partners, for the old to get away from life struggles, for man to enjoy their traditional corn wine; it is like a colour festival of life, a happy time for them before heading back to the real life. Back to Bac Ha at noon time with a pass-by the H’Mong King Palace to learn about the old days. Drive back to Sapa or Lao Cai station as per your request. Tour ended at about 4pm.

A day at Sin Cheng market
Located in the center of Si Ma Cai districts more than 10km, in the past there have a lot of difficulties when travelling in this road, so Sin Cheng almost separate from the outside. That barrier makes it difficult for Cheng Sin land and people get rich as the lower, but also so that the value of a long tradition still preserved.

We follow the truck through the winding roads to the highlands Sin Cheng (Si Ma Cai) to the market. He drove back down after the shipment was apparently very familiar this way. Cheng Sin market was held weekly on Wednesday, my friend accompanied me wonder why no meeting on the weekend as many others. It is easy not to coincide with other market. Only that thing creates personal definition of Sin Chengmarket.

Anyone coming Cheng Sin market are always surprised by the fair with strong ethnic identity. At noon, bustling markets who are buyers, sellers, the Mong, the Nung, Thu Lao … give the most precious. Men take advantage of the fresh new wine tasting and then find themselves a seat for the monthly, while women are inserted in the Tho Cam clothing. Sin Cheng is known for delicious rice and tingle like native ducks that are only here, remote clients who sought to buy themselves with the product object. Being on the season, the stalls sell large farm equipments. In Si Ma Cai and Lao Cai highland district, Horse is no longer the only means to the commune, but still coming to Cheng Sin, we easily caught the horses riding early in the sun.

Even if the market has sought to overcome the forest, mountains to the highlands, but the market still cannot lose the tradition for many generations. The Sin Cheng honest capital, physical development, a string of chili, a can of alcohol or a water buffalo … just say only one price, if the goods have not been sold, they will bring them come back home and waiting for the fair after, not any type of bargains like people trafficking. That the main things that make us – who first came to the Sin Cheng fair who always want to return to this land.
 

Some ethnic tours:
13 Days - Explore the hilltribe markets and remote village of the Black Lo Lo
05 Days - Hill tribes of Sapa and Weekend markets