From Sapa we headed toward Bac Ha to take in the weekend hill tribe market there. We bartered on a price for a ride in a minivan and left town promptly. As we were pulling out of the parking area, some guys stopped the van and loaded in another passenger - a young woman who seemed somewhat rushed as they shoved her and her backpack into the van. Her name turned out to be Astrid, she was a lovely young woman from the Netherlands. We chatted for most of the ride and somehow the topic of payment for the ride came up - it turned out that she paid more for her ride than our whole family combined did. Ah Vietnam, you are never dull! Those guys are very savvy at assessing the situation and getting the most out of you! Astrid was in a hurry with no time to barter since the van was leaving, so she just agreed to their price because it may have been her last chance to go that night. Of course, the minivan then proceeded to stop and pick up supplies at about 3 other places, then deliver them all along the way, so it seems we weren't in such a hurry after all.
We got to Bac Ha after dark, and there seemed to be only one hotel room left in town, so Astrid joined our family for the night and the following day at the market. She was a fun and interesting addition to our family and we travelled back to Hanoi together as well. She is likely back home by now in her new physiotherapy job -Astrid, if you're reading this, I hope the new job suits you well, and that you get to travel again sometime soon!
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| Us with our new family member, Astrid |
The Bac Ha market was an incredible scene with local hill tribe people from all around coming to sell their wares - fruits and veggies, live animals, meat, handicrafts, and more. We arrived really early and the many vendors were just getting set up, but already their colorful clothing was adding a lot of energy to the otherwise gray and foggy morning.
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| The hill tribe vendors just getting set up in the early morning light |
As the market got going it became a full sensory experience with so many colors, people, products, and the sounds and smells that accompany all of that activity.
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| Some colorful Flower Hmong women selling lotsa lettuce |
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| colorful moms and babes |
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| black pepper for sale |
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| and gorgeous chili peppers |
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| All kinds of grass brooms - the sounds of these brooms sweeping in the early mornings has been a constant in Asia |
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| textiles and handicrafts |
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| sugarcane in the rain |
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| selling hooch - homemade rice wine in jugs |
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| Lucas buying some peanuts from a vendor |
Some of us were a little choked up at the live animal section. We saw all kinds of animals being taken up a ramp to the live animal section. The area was divided into different kinds of animals, the first were the pigs, most of which were tied in sacks and were protesting very loudly at their fate. That was enough for Maya, she and I went to have a warm drink while the others explored further. I think Astrid wishes she came with us - she may be vegetarian now.
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| These little piggies went to market - some in cages, some in sacks, some tied up, none of them happy about it |
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| A woman taking her cows up to the live animal area to sell them |
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| A basket of chickens - insert your own funny caption for the one looking straight at the camera! |
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| Sold by the pound, hard to get an accurate reading! |
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These chickens were being casually carried around the vegetable area after being
purchased in the live animal area
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| These ducks rode to the market on the back of a scooter |
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| We never did confirm the fate of these puppies, it is probably better that way. |
Chris took lots of photos in the meat section too, which I will not post here, particularly the one of the horse. The meat section was interesting and somewhat horrifying at the same time, for me anyway. The whole market was fascinating, we're so glad we made the trip to see it.
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