Bac Ha Market
Bac Ha Market
4.5
7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
About
Bac ha Market Nestled in the northern hills of Vietnam exists one of the best ethnic markets in all of Southeast Asia! On Sundays, the ethnic minorities from the surrounding villages and hills come by foot, by motorscooter, by horse, and by water buffalow for their chance to socialize, eat, drink, smoke, get a haircut, and buy produce and meat for the next week. It is a blur of colorful plaids and stripes.
Duration: More than 3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Bac Ha Market
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
12 within 3 miles
Attractions
1 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
501 reviews
Excellent
282
Very good
130
Average
56
Poor
19
Terrible
14
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
KianHian L
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia1,295 contributions
Oct 2019
Colourful tribes market, selling everything from farming produces to livestock such buffalo, pig, chicken not missing the dogs and puppies. A row of open air barbers line the side lane of the river to the market (behind the row of shop lots. The buffaloes market is after the bridge if you don’t mine the dang smell, just follows the dropping on the road to the main trading area. Here you can watch the negotiation going on among the farmers and the buffaloes changed owner, dealing in cash.
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Monika M
25 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
The Bac Ha market is totally not worth the visit. Firstly you travel for hours to reach a giant open market, something you can see in any Asian town, sometimes on a smaller scale. Vegetables, condiments, fruits, various types of fresh and dried meats etc are on display. When tourists are spotted prices are inflated at once and chances of bargaining are slim with the dour villagers. But the most shocking is the live animal market. Puppies in filthy tiny wire cages are sold, some for a home, many for the pot. Pigs and piglets tied in gunny bags, with barely a hole to breathe. We also saw some wild squirrels trapped and kept in tiny wire cages with bleeding noses and foreheads. It seemed like a nightmare and I was sorry I spent quite a bit of money to see this. Then the guides take you to some place for lunch where they hustle you for money with inflated prices. After that you are taken to see an 'ethnic village'. It's through a dirty track, through some tin houses to see someone brewing local moonshine from corn, which you are urged to buy. Nothing ethnic about it. After that comes the looong drive home, though through a much prettier road so that you can at least see some of Sapa's famous terraced rice fields. The tour we booked though just dropped us 20 min away from the pick up/drop off point and vanished, so that the whole group, including some old ladies, had to trudge their way uphill and back to town. Oh and did I mention they almost lost one of the members of the group, and did not go looking for her till it was time to leave, so that she got no lunch. Complete waste of money, time and some of the sights are nightmarish. Most of these local tour operators are awful and the market should be shut down by WWF/PETA.
Written 8 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
India11
Guildford, UK972 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
Wonderful market, bursting with local people and all sorts of food, clothes and other things.
Saturday eve is also amazing as everyone gathers. Although slightly sad as so many children are doing little dances to pop songs, dressed in their traditional clothes, collecting money. They seemed to get increasingly tired as the eve progressed and it felt rather like child labour.
Try and get to the market about 8am, before the tourist crowds arrive. I know I am a tourist but I liked being in the market when I couldn't see any others!
Saturday eve is also amazing as everyone gathers. Although slightly sad as so many children are doing little dances to pop songs, dressed in their traditional clothes, collecting money. They seemed to get increasingly tired as the eve progressed and it felt rather like child labour.
Try and get to the market about 8am, before the tourist crowds arrive. I know I am a tourist but I liked being in the market when I couldn't see any others!
Written 21 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Speis75
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia246 contributions
Dec 2022
I read about Bac Ha market when I was doing to research about Sapa. It certainly is a colourful bustling market where the different tribes come to trade their goods on a Sunday. Bear in mind, this market only opens on Sundays. It's about a 3 1/2 journey from Sapa town and another 3 1/2 hour journey back to Sapa town. Only visit this if you are on the way to or from somewhere near, if not, its not worth the trip to drive all the way just from the market.
Written 27 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike J
Chepstow, UK878 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
We spent a good couple of hours wandering around this fascinating market place. People from many different ethnic tribes gather here to trade and socialize on every Sunday many of them having come a considerable distance to meet up with others. The women to bargain and chat and the man to smoke and drink. All manner of trade takes place and goods including livestock are later transported to outlying villages and homes on motor bikes and scooters. This is what Bac Ha is all about and should be on everyone's itinerary when visiting Northern Vietnam.
Written 30 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I S
2 contributions
Dec 2022
Worth the overnight bus journey from Hanoi. Stay with Highland Homestay and organise a private tour with owner Zu, so that you get a better insight into the local culture. All the women wear their best traditional outfits and everyone is busy buying and selling local foods, animals and everything else. Try the food, it's amazingly fresh!
Written 19 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alessandro S
Bologna, Italy4,729 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
Remarkable sight. Many people came down from the mountains to sell vegetables, fabrics etc
There are many Hmong women present. There is a large area dedicated to meat and offal. They also do street food but it's better not to risk it. Some girls wear traditional costumes. I find a shop dedicated to objects of worship of the dead and buy packs of fake banknotes to burn.
The Bac Ha market, known not only for its offering of buffaloes, on sale in the upper part of the market together with many other animals, but also for the excellent variety of handmade crafts, is only held on Sunday mornings:
There are many Hmong women present. There is a large area dedicated to meat and offal. They also do street food but it's better not to risk it. Some girls wear traditional costumes. I find a shop dedicated to objects of worship of the dead and buy packs of fake banknotes to burn.
The Bac Ha market, known not only for its offering of buffaloes, on sale in the upper part of the market together with many other animals, but also for the excellent variety of handmade crafts, is only held on Sunday mornings:
Written 20 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dembabies
Madison, WI5 contributions
Mar 2011
Bac Ha...best market in Vietnam? Me thinks not. We arrived and planned to stay in Bac Ha on a Sunday morning before the market opened. We followed the advice of our mini-bus driver and got some breakfast at a hotel--Ngan Nga--where we were also planning on staying. A red flag flew immediately with the terrible breakfast and poor service, so right away we planned on taking the mini-bus to Sapa after the market.
While at first we were hopeful of finding some interesting handicrafts at the market and were impressed at the explosion of colors, our market journey soon evolved into an incredibly disappointing trip.
First of all, everyone is selling the exact same things, whether it be handmade blankets, purses or pashmina scarves, basically the same pattern (and many of the same items) you've seen all over SE Asia. The badgering is constant and intense. You cannot actually barter for anything, since it seemed as if the sellers all basically have set prices (and those prices are much higher than elsewhere).
Some of the remaining traditional aspects of the market are interesting, such as the livestock areas. While it's not our business to be offended, I'm sure many a white folk will be saddened and sickened to see the adorable puppies for sale, if not surprised, since dog meat is still eaten here (mostly in the North, it seems, and in the last half of the month) despite what the guidebooks say. We also saw a tiny kitten on the same red leash as the hogs. Do they eat kittens here?!
Then came the worst part: We sat down at a small table selling coffee and tea. (They are located near-ish to the entrance to the real market, after all the souvie shops on the way in), The woman made us a coffee, sold us a water and tea while another forced two small plates of peanuts and dried coconuts upon us (by forced I mean one of her co-workers literally put these nuts into my hand and gestured for me to eat, eat!) It was decently pleasant and comfortable...until it came time to pay. She wrote out the bill. 40,000 VND for coffee. What? "You had double." (We did not ask for a double, or even 2... but okay.) 100,000 VND for the peanuts and coconut? Wait, 100,000 dong for EACH PLATE OF PEANUTS? We ended up being forced to pay, despite our arguments, about $15 American dollars for two measly plates of peanuts that we did not order, a coffee, tea and water, as did the Polish couple next us. WTF! This woman would not budge on the price so we felt that we had to pay this exorbitant amount. After traveling for nearly 6 weeks in Vietnam, this was the first time we felt really ripped off. Sometimes you sit at a food stall and watch the locals pay, and then watch yourself get charged 5,000 dong more... that's no big deal and just part of traveling. But getting gouged like that just let's you know when an event/area has become over-saturated to the point where locals feel comfortable ripping you off. This kind of environment isn't good for the locals OR the tourists, and just breeds resentment on both sides. It does seem in Bac Ha (and to a lesser extent Sapa) that there is a good amount of disdain for tourists on the part of the locals. I can't really blame some of them but I don't want to be part of it either.
Admittedly, this soiled the rest of our market experience, though we tried to make up for it by warning others who were at the same stall to watch out for the $5 peanuts. Sometimes it was already too late and we would see another disgruntled Westerner trying to keep the peace by forking over 2,000,000+ dong.
In my opinion, this place is played out. Eventually there will be no locals selling and buying goods here, just busses full of tourists...willing to spend $10 for peanuts.
While at first we were hopeful of finding some interesting handicrafts at the market and were impressed at the explosion of colors, our market journey soon evolved into an incredibly disappointing trip.
First of all, everyone is selling the exact same things, whether it be handmade blankets, purses or pashmina scarves, basically the same pattern (and many of the same items) you've seen all over SE Asia. The badgering is constant and intense. You cannot actually barter for anything, since it seemed as if the sellers all basically have set prices (and those prices are much higher than elsewhere).
Some of the remaining traditional aspects of the market are interesting, such as the livestock areas. While it's not our business to be offended, I'm sure many a white folk will be saddened and sickened to see the adorable puppies for sale, if not surprised, since dog meat is still eaten here (mostly in the North, it seems, and in the last half of the month) despite what the guidebooks say. We also saw a tiny kitten on the same red leash as the hogs. Do they eat kittens here?!
Then came the worst part: We sat down at a small table selling coffee and tea. (They are located near-ish to the entrance to the real market, after all the souvie shops on the way in), The woman made us a coffee, sold us a water and tea while another forced two small plates of peanuts and dried coconuts upon us (by forced I mean one of her co-workers literally put these nuts into my hand and gestured for me to eat, eat!) It was decently pleasant and comfortable...until it came time to pay. She wrote out the bill. 40,000 VND for coffee. What? "You had double." (We did not ask for a double, or even 2... but okay.) 100,000 VND for the peanuts and coconut? Wait, 100,000 dong for EACH PLATE OF PEANUTS? We ended up being forced to pay, despite our arguments, about $15 American dollars for two measly plates of peanuts that we did not order, a coffee, tea and water, as did the Polish couple next us. WTF! This woman would not budge on the price so we felt that we had to pay this exorbitant amount. After traveling for nearly 6 weeks in Vietnam, this was the first time we felt really ripped off. Sometimes you sit at a food stall and watch the locals pay, and then watch yourself get charged 5,000 dong more... that's no big deal and just part of traveling. But getting gouged like that just let's you know when an event/area has become over-saturated to the point where locals feel comfortable ripping you off. This kind of environment isn't good for the locals OR the tourists, and just breeds resentment on both sides. It does seem in Bac Ha (and to a lesser extent Sapa) that there is a good amount of disdain for tourists on the part of the locals. I can't really blame some of them but I don't want to be part of it either.
Admittedly, this soiled the rest of our market experience, though we tried to make up for it by warning others who were at the same stall to watch out for the $5 peanuts. Sometimes it was already too late and we would see another disgruntled Westerner trying to keep the peace by forking over 2,000,000+ dong.
In my opinion, this place is played out. Eventually there will be no locals selling and buying goods here, just busses full of tourists...willing to spend $10 for peanuts.
Written 28 March 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Musicandtravel_10
Vancouver2 contributions
My goal with this review is simple ... I do not want one more person to make the same ( simple) mistake I made. It is easy while traveling to sit down, order a beer, and then ask the price after the fact. I got into this routine. So upon entering the Bac Ha market , there was a lady ( 40-50ish) who called out to foreigners for coffee or tea. I asked how much, but she muddled around getting me and my boyfirend a beer, so I didn't think twice. She put a few peanuts in front as well. When all was said and done ( 2 beers and the peanuts later) she said everything came to $10. She brought in some Vietnamese man to make the point we had to pay. Now, back in Canada $10 may seem reasonable, but it's the principle here that has made me write this. She didn't tell us the price, and charged us at least 5 times the value of the drinks. Be careful if you decide to sit down for tea/ coffee/beer. Clearly discuss the price for each drink, and be careful with peanuts!!!!
Written 27 March 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
INDOCHINA DREAM TRAVEL
Hanoi, Vietnam88 contributions
Jan 2019 • Friends
Bac Ha is one of the most beautiful market in Lao Cai. Lots of Flower H’Mong tribe ladies are selling their handy craft and all are start with a smile... Unforgettable of our experience when asking them about their “corn volka” as our tour guide’s explanation. All of them offered us a lid of “...”, we do not know how to express but seems “the best wolka” in town was here.
In the afternoon, we start our trek from little hamlet of Bac Ha. Then we get to centre of small hamlet of Phec Bung. We descending down the slope to a rice paddy of villagers and great experience of our trekking was starting.
Stunning view of little houses along our trekking with lots of water buffoloes and many kids was saying "hello... bye bye" seems make us feel sorry. This part of trip seems back few hundred years ago in our world.
Some part of our trekking was hard as we have to gliding down instead of walking on our feet...As soon as we get to Trung Do village for homestay. The host of homestay was asking if we want to shower or not. A bit confuse but we work out that they have no electricity in town and hot water for our shower was boiled in a big pot on firer. How nice! Great hospitality of people. We would come back and having another trip in this area soon.
In the afternoon, we start our trek from little hamlet of Bac Ha. Then we get to centre of small hamlet of Phec Bung. We descending down the slope to a rice paddy of villagers and great experience of our trekking was starting.
Stunning view of little houses along our trekking with lots of water buffoloes and many kids was saying "hello... bye bye" seems make us feel sorry. This part of trip seems back few hundred years ago in our world.
Some part of our trekking was hard as we have to gliding down instead of walking on our feet...As soon as we get to Trung Do village for homestay. The host of homestay was asking if we want to shower or not. A bit confuse but we work out that they have no electricity in town and hot water for our shower was boiled in a big pot on firer. How nice! Great hospitality of people. We would come back and having another trip in this area soon.
Written 1 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We thank you for your interest and comments, we congratulate you on having a wonderful holiday in Vietnam
Written 24 May 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ciao, esistono bus diretti da hanoi a bac ha o devo dirigermi per forza a Lao cai?
is there a direct bus from hanoi to bac ha or i have to go to Lao cai and there take another bus?
Written 24 February 2019
Ciao. Ad Agosto 2018, nonostante io avessi trovato sul Web un bus da Hanoi a Bac Ha, una volta arrivati ad Hanoi nessuno ne sapeva nulla e fummo costretti ad andare a Lao Cai e poi prendere un piccolo bus fino a Bac Ha. Il bus per Bac Ha si prendeva alla stazione dei pullman di fronte alla stazione ferroviaria di Lao Cai, nel primo pomeriggio. Per tornare ad Hanoi invece, il padrone della guest house dove dormivamo ci prenotò uno sleeping bus diretto ad Halong che ci lasciò appena fuori alla down town di Hanoi, comodissimo, 5 minuti di taxi.
Buone vacanze.
Written 24 February 2019
Hi, is it worth to go if I can only reach Bac Ha Market at 5pm and leave by 7pm?
Written 19 February 2019
No, we went at 10 am and left around 3 and it was starting to wrap up by then.
Written 19 February 2019
is there a good place to stay right near tge market???
Written 29 November 2017
Bac Ha is small enough that most of the place in the town will be an easy walk to the market.
Now, if you are looking for really nice accommodations, staying in Bac Ha may not be for you. The hotels are comfortable and clean, but not fancy. They are a place to rest at night and that's about it. Most of the recommendations we saw for Ngan Nga Bac Ha Hotel. We walked up on Saturday to get a room for the night, and they were completely booked. So if you want to stay there, it might be worth booking in advance. You'll pay $15-$20 USD. We ended up staying at the Bac Ha Hotel. Again, clean, had the basics, but that's it. Nothing fancy. We paid $20, which was probably a little too much, but the guy let us keep our room until our bus back to Lao Cai picked us up at 4 pm the next day. Not having to check out by 11 am and therefore being able to enjoy the market was well worth the extra few bucks.
The benefit to staying in Bac Ha is that you can get up early and enjoy the market with the locals before all the tourist from Sapa get down around 12 noon. Once the buses of tourist arrive, it loses some of the feel.
Written 1 December 2017
Renting a motorbiking in Sapa to go to Bac Ha
Written 16 November 2017
Hola, por favor necesito contacto de proveedores del Bac Ha Market o de alguna persona que me pueda enviar unas cosas desde allí a España. Muchas gracias
Written 22 June 2017
Hi, I am planning on travelling to Bac Ha soon and would like to do some shopping at the market for authentic (or as close to as possible) handcrafts such as a large blanket. But I am worried about being overcharge and would like to have an indication of a fair price?
Written 28 May 2017
I always bargain hard (25% of first price) and walk away from the first shop - you can always go back if you have to. You then ask for a discount for quantity to see if there is further room for price negotiation. The price from that shop gives you an indication of about where you should start at the next place. At the end of the day you both have to be happy so treat it as a game.
Written 28 May 2017
Hi, I'm planning to go to Bac Ha Market from Hanoi. I guess that I can take a two day trip visiting Bac Ha as well as Sapa.
Probably I'll stay in Sapa on the 1st day and visit the market on the next day, after that heading back to Hanoi.
Just wonder if it's a possible plan.
Written 23 February 2017
Hello,
The train goes from Hanoi to Lao Cai station. That is an 8 hour over night trip. Then a van will take you to Sapa. That is another hour or longer. The trip from Sapa to BacHa is 3 hours there and 3 hours back. Sometimes 4 hours each way. If you really want to visit Bac Ha, I HIGHLY recommend doing it one of these ways:
- Take the train Friday night. Arrive in Lao Cai on Saturday morning. Staying in Lao Cai Saturday. Sunday morning take a shuttle to BacHa. Enjoy the market then take a shuttle to Sapa. Spend Sunday night in Sapa and enjoy a full day there doing a trek on Monday. That evening, take a shuttle back to Lao Cai and take the over night train to Hanoi.
OR -
- Take the over night train (friday) to Lao Cai. Arrive Saturday morning. Take a shuttle that day to Bac Ha. Stay over night in Bac Ha and spend Saturday exploring and trekking. Wake up Sunday morning early and see the market. Take a shuttle from BacHa to Sapa. Spend Sunday night in Sapa. Trek on Monday. Take a shuttle that evening back to Lao Cai and take the over night train to Hanoi.
Or-
- Take Saturday night train to Lao Cai. Arrive in Lao Cai Sunday morning. Take a shuttle directly to BacHa and enjoy the market. Take a shuttle to Sapa that afternoon and enjoy two nights in Sapa doing bigger treks.
I hope this helps. Enjoy!
Written 23 February 2017
Bonjour,
Nous partons à Bac Ha fin de semaine et il y a une info que je n'arrive à trouver nulle part. On conseille d'arriver à Bac Ha la veille pour éviter les touristes. C'est ce que nous comptons faire, nous arrivons à Lao Cai vers 18h, savez-vous si il y a encore des bus à cette heure-là (car sur les sites, je n'en vois que dans la matinée)? Ou alors est-il possible de prendre un taxi et connaissez-vous le prix approximatif?
Si quelqu'un pouvait m'aider, ce serait génial :D
Merci d'avance!
Sandrine
Written 7 February 2017
Je réponds en partie pour les gens qui se poseront la question : il y a en tout cas des bus jusqu'à 16h au départ de Lao Cai, c'est celui que nous avons pris. On est arrivés à 18h30, après beaucoup d'arrêts en chemin. Attention, si vous venez de Sapa, on vous déposera à la gare ferroviaire et non pas la gare routière: si vous demandez le bus pour Bac ha au guichet du train, l'employé du guichet censément préposé à l'information appelle un rabatteur qui fait venir le bus pour vous et vous prend une "commission" de 25,000 dongs. Donc ne faites pas comme nous : marcher jusqu'à la gare routière au bout de Phan Ding Phung road et achetez votre billet Lao Cai-Bac ha au vrai prix : 60,000 dongs.
Written 19 March 2018
Hi
which provider did you choose to book this tour?
Written 11 January 2017
Showing results 1-10 of 18
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing