Vibrant Tet market of ethnic people on Bac Ha Plateau in Northern Vietnam

The Bac Ha market meets once a week, scheduled on Sundays, where people from highland districts come to trade and interact.

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At 4 AM, in the biting cold of the market close to Tet, with an outdoor temperature of 4°C, people have already arrived to set up their stalls, preparing for a busy market day.

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The freezing cold forces early market-goers to light coal stoves to warm up. For the H’mong people, going to the market is not just for trading but also to meet each other and enjoy food and the vibrant atmosphere.

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The local food stalls are ready to serve early customers in a bitter cold.

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The delicious local dishes are beautifully arranged, attracting visitors when they come to the market.

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This H’mong couple enjoys a breakfast before heading to the market.

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Besides dishes made from black chicken, pig’s legs, and traditional pork, a must-try food for the H'mong people is thắng cố ngựa (horse meat stew) and mèn mén (corn-based dish).

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Going to the market is also an opportunity to connect and build friendships, often by offering a shot of strong rice wine to guests.

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The market before Tet has more goods and more people than usual.

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The Sunday market is always busy and lively, but it's especially more crowded before Tet, as people dress up, shop for the New Year, and there are more goods and tourists, making the atmosphere even more festive, says Cu A Phu, a young H'mong man who rides his motorbike from Si Ma Cai to Bac Ha for the market.

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At the market, tourists can’t resist the tempting local foods such as phở chua Bắc Hà (sour noodle soup), corn bánh đúc (pudding), sticky rice cakes, black bánh chưng (square sticky rice cakes), and five-color sticky rice—these are famous specialties of the Bac Ha Plateau.

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The H'mong people are known for their traditional ironwork and knife-making. Sharp knives are in high demand as people prepare their cutting tools for the Tet holiday.

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Various types of grains such as rice, glutinous rice, and corn are staple foods for the H'mong people and sell well since every household needs glutinous rice for making sticky rice and wrapping cakes during the Tet holiday.

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Fragrant bundles of incense made from herbs are commonly lit in homes during Tet.

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An elderly man goes to the market with a bundle of wild peach blossoms from the Northwest.

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For highlanders, corn wine is a must-have beverage in every home, especially during festivals. This local wine, made with local fermentation, is elegantly named Hồng Mi.