From the break of dawn, immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere: A captivating scene unfolds as a group of individuals marvels at a buffalo, accompanied by the grunts of nearby pigs. Venture further, and you’ll encounter a vibrant row of embroidery shops adorned with colorful costumes, illuminating a charming corner of the market. Wisps of smoke rise from small food stalls, where people gather around steaming bowls of noodles.
Men often gather in convivial groups, sharing moments next to bottles and cups filled with rice liquor. Alongside, stalls offer an array of essential items such as cellphones, radios, torches, bags – practically everything needed for life in the mountains. The market presents an abundance of visually striking activities, making it a haven for photographers. For those passionate about travel photography in Vietnam, this is an idyllic setting to capture an array images.
Bac Ha Market is another must-visit destination for travel photography in Vietnam. Nestled in the heart of Bac Ha town, this vibrant market is conveniently accessible on foot if you’re staying nearby.
Taking place every Sunday, Bac Ha Market transforms the town center into a dazzling display of color and life. The streets come alive with the bright hues of a thousand traditional dresses worn by locals from various ethnic groups, creating a tapestry of culture and tradition. While its vibrancy rivals that of Can Cau Market, Bac Ha tends to attract more visitors, including many travelers armed with big cameras. It’s undoubtedly more touristic, but its central location makes it easily accessible and bustling with energy.
For photographers, Bac Ha offers countless opportunities to capture compelling scenes, from the intricate details of traditional textiles to candid portraits of locals engaging in their weekly trades. However, separating your subject from the crowd may require a bit more patience and creativity.
Ha Giang is Vietnam’s northernmost province, a land of breathtaking mystery and beauty. Known for its striking karst formations and deep, verdant valleys, Ha Giang boasts some of the most dramatic landscapes in the country. While the province shares its name with a small city, the majority of its people live scattered across the rugged mountain ranges.
Home to around 20 ethnic minority groups, Ha Giang is a vibrant tapestry of culture and tradition. These communities sustain themselves through agriculture and forestry, their daily lives intertwined with the rhythms of the land. The colorful traditional attire, terraced fields, and remote villages add depth and authenticity to the photographic experience.
For travel photography, or landscape photography, or people photography, Ha Giang is simply unmissable. From the winding roads of the legendary Ma Pi Leng Pass to the lively markets where ethnic groups gather, every corner of this province offers an opportunity to capture something extraordinary. Ha Giang is more than just a destination—it’s an invitation to photograph a Vietnam that feels timeless and untouched.
The market is about an hour of extremely scenic & relatively smooth drive from Dong Van town – being the center of Dong Van district. Along the way, don’t miss capturing the small paved roads winding their way along the hillsides. There’s something that this region is famous for: Rocks. Everywhere there are formations. And it is mind boggling to think about how life finds away in such a barren looking land. Yet, life thrives. People grow corn along the rocky cliff and build their houses out of earth.
Sa Phin market meets once a week, like most mountain market. However, you need to contact sales@momentlives.com to see when the next market session will be, as it doesn’t happen on a fixed day. The locals use the lunar calendar to time the market. This market is located right in front of the former H’mong king’s house.
Sa Phin market is not centrally located. It’s quite a distance from nearby communities in terms of walking. While people manage to get here on scooters, a lot of ethnic people have to be on foot to get here. Any this can easily be several hours. Despite of the fact that scooter is among the most popular vehicle in Vietnam, life can be of a different extreme somewhere else. And it happens here in Ha Giang.
Most of the participants at Sa Phin Market are H’mong, specifically the Black H’mong. The H’mong people have a rich history dating back to ancient times, with their origins in what is now modern-day Mongolia. Centuries of struggles and defeats in various conflicts scattered the H’mong across neighboring regions. About 300 years ago, they began migrating to Vietnam, and today, you’ll find H’mong communities in nearly all of northern Vietnam’s mountainous provinces.
One of the highlights for travel photography at Sa Phin Market is its remarkable authenticity. Here, you’ll witness H’mong men and women proudly wearing their traditional attire. The men typically dress in simple black pants and shirts, while the women don colorful skirts paired with white blouses, creating a vibrant contrast that reflects their cultural identity.
While each section of the market offers something for your travel photography. Things that might interest you would be:
At Momentlives, we bring you a great sense of mountain markets on some of our photography tours. Come and join us!