If most of the mountain markets in Vietnam happen on weekend, Lung Phin is a different one which is rich local culture meaning. This is based on the date of 12 animal designations in clued Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare/Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep/Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. This market is every day of Monkey and Tiger

11 - Lung Phin Market
If most of the mountain markets in Vietnam happen on weekend, Lung Phin is a different one which is rich local culture meaning. This is based on the date of 12 animal designations in clued Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare/Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep/Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. This market is every day of Monkey and Tiger.
From the late afternoon of the day before the Flower H’mong, Black Zao, Tay and Phu La peoples gather here from the surrounding areas and have one night meeting friends who come from other villages. The old people talk about their family, children, works…while young people talk about love and marriage…some of them would come with instruments and dance to warm up the cold night.
The market is right on the hillside near the main road between Bac Ha and Can Cau with some thatched huts where at the corner they tie animals.

* Lung Phin market is 12km from Bac Ha, 82km from Lao Cai and about 120km from Sapa

12 - Si Ma Cai Market on Sunday
Hiding itself in the mountains and forest at the far end of a tough road, Si Ma Cai Market is often referred to as one of the remotest tribal market of the region and rarely visited by tourists.
The name Simacai means “ horse market” in H’mong language and old peoples said that It was the biggest horse market of the region. However, life is changing fast and horses are not the only purchasing objects nowadays.
The market place is simply a large ground near the recently developed town let of Simacai District with some thatched huts built to accommodate shops and food stalls. Every Sunday, Simacai market attracts some thousands of Flower H’mong, Zao, Phu La peoples from villages in the region come to shopping, enjoying themselves meeting friends and relatives…after hard working days. They spend most of their time at the market talking, chatting and also drinking a lot.

* Simacai is 27km from Bac Ha, 98km from Lao Cai City and 135km from Sapa