In the middle of rice terraces, the scattered villages, consisting of rudimentary huts. In the countrysides, some buffaloes hitched to the wooden plows plough the soil, while the farmers bustle in the culture of the land. In this part of Vietnam, second agricultural attic after the Mekong delta, the culture of the rice and the corn represents the main revenue stream of the inhabitants, accompanied by local crafts and breeding of animals resold or exchanged during local markets. Inhabitants, stemming for the most part of ethnic minorities, dress up of traditional attires marking their membership group. Vietnam counts 54 minority groups which the most important in this region, is represeted by the Hmong community.

Mainly established in mountain range of Hoang Lien Son, at North of the country, Hmong People belongs to the mountain community Miao, native of China. It subdivides into different subgroups: green Hmong (named also blue Hmong), white Hmong, black Hmong and Flower Hmong.
Originally, even before the arrival of the Chinese in China, they lived along the Yangtze River.
But along the centuries, they suffered several waves of migrations during which the Hmong knew successive clashes with their occupants.

At first pushed away toward the south of the country at the mercy of military expeditions of Han dynasties, Mongolian and mandchoues, in XIXth century, the Hmong took refuge within mountain massifs to organize their first shape of fight to preserve their identity. Under the colonial influence, they became allied to the British, and then to the French, during the Indochina War.

The Can Cau Saturday Market
Not far away from the city of Lao Cai, the market of Can Cau has soundly kept a certain authenticity, compared to the one of Bac Ha.
 Each Saturday, in the shade of the verdant mountainous peaks, the Flower Hmong join villagers to this meeting place, accompanied with their cattle.
In a rural and friendly atmosphere, they improvise their stalls down the ground and make their bargainings.

The Bac Ha Sunday Market
At Sapa, the ethnic markets are the occasion for the locals to sell their agricultural production and their cattle breeding.
It is also the weekly appointment of the inhabitants, for the greater part originary of ethnic minorities, that allows to exchange the news of the week around a meal or to converse around a sale.
 On every Sunday, in a livened up and colored atmosphere, the Flower Hmong meet together to the Bac Ha market, the most important one in the area.
 

Some typical tours:
13 Days - Explore the hilltribe markets and remote village of the Black Lo Lo
04 Days - Market and Ecolodge Package in Sapa