For a long time, the fair is not only a place to trade or exchange goods, but also a "living museum" recreating the unique cultural life of different ethnic groups, Cao Bang fair is no exception. It is a destination not to be missed by tourists when visiting this beautiful land.
Unique features of Cao Bang fair
The fairs in Cao Bang are unobtrusive, unpretentious, just rustic and simple, with small bamboo stalls lined up on both sides of the aisle, but because here people are not too crowded, normal. They are always busy with work, so it is only when the fair takes place that they have the opportunity to meet each other. Therefore, on these occasions, the flow of people from all over the valleys or on the hills makes the whole area bustling and bustling.
People flock to the market very crowded (Photo @farwegotravelvietnam)
In particular, each person who comes to the market will have different purposes: some people come to buy food and food for storage, some people sell home-made products, others come to meet and exchange gifts. Changing minds, tourists come to discover the unique culture of the highlands…all of which create an irresistible attraction.
Moreover, Cao Bang fair is also a place where boys and girls date and flirt with each other. At this time, they will put on the most beautiful, newest and most brilliant traditional ethnic costumes, then perform soft, flexible and seductive dances, clear sacred lyrics or gongs skillful…to impress the beloved. Just like that, they "drunk" each other and became charming with each other, forming a beautiful love story that would last forever, making people admire.
Where boys and girls should be charming
In addition, because it is the event that attracts the most participants in the province, this is also an opportunity for the authorities to easily propagate the guidelines and policies of the Party and the State, thereby promoting raise awareness of people in the region.
Special products at Cao Bang fair
Unlike the lowland markets that are full of modern industrial products, elegant designer goods or even luxury brands, the highland market in general and the Cao Bang market in particular only products that carry the breath of life of upland people and are drawn from the quintessence of their labor.
Typical of which are colorful brocade stalls of the H'mong and Nung people, with flowing dresses, soft blankets or pretty handbags...; These are traditional musical instruments made of bamboo, half or bronze such as: Khen, flute, gong... and also tools for daily labor such as knives, baskets, spears or sickles...
(Photo @joliemee_boutique)
Specializing in selling handmade products of people (Photo @jin.lmt)
In addition, the type of product that most people are aiming for, so indispensable in Cao Bang markets is food such as rice, potatoes, corn, meat, fish and wild vegetables... Hand raised and cared for, extremely clean, delicious and guaranteed.
Abundant food (Photo @namduong10_)
Along with that, there are specialties for visitors to buy gifts after their trip to Cao Bang such as: banh xeo, banh che lam, smoked ribs, beef jerky, vermicelli and Jiao co lam tea... However, there will be items you can only buy seasonally such as: plums and pears in the summer, Chongqing chestnuts in the fall and tangerines around the New Year...
However, the most special feature at Cao Bang market is probably the stalls selling food on the spot, with the waft of smoke carrying the scent of the nose flying around the space, attracting people from afar making it impossible not to stop to enjoy.
Delicious cakes (Photo @justinle8x)
Some of the dishes that you should try here are: sour pho with a variety of toppings such as: fried bacon, boiled chicken, fried ribs, roasted duck...; Cao Bang rolls are eaten with rich sweet bone broth, deliciously fragrant five colors wrapped in green banana leaves, mugwort cake, day cake, corn cake , banh bao, banh conong, ant egg cake, men unique men, or mixed tea and cool white jelly made from gifts of ma pupp…
Eye-catching five-color sticky rice (Photo @maistaywild)Cao Bang fair meeting schedule
Normally, the fairs in Cao Bang will meet once every 5 days, specifically:
In Chongqing
The district market meets on the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, and 25th days of the lunar calendar.
Po Tau Market is held on the 1st, 6th, 11th, 16th, 21st and 26th of every lunar month.
Po Peo and Ban Ra markets meet on the 4th, 9, 14th, 19th, 24th and 29th of the lunar month.
Dinh Phong Market meets on the 3rd, 9, 13th, 18th, 23rd and 28th of the lunar month.
Thong Hue Market meets on the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd and 27th of the lunar month.
In Quang Uyen
The district market meets on the 1st, 6th, 11, 16th, 21st and 26th of the lunar month.
Dong Da Market meets on the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th and 25th of the lunar month.
Hang Chau Market meets on the 3rd, 8, 13th, 18th, 23rd and 28th of the lunar month.
In Tra Linh
Tra Linh Market meets on the 4th, 9, 14th, 19th, 24th and 29th of the lunar calendar every month.
Ban Short Market is held on the 3rd, 8th, 13th, 18th, 23rd and 28th of the lunar month.
In Bao Lam
District markets and Na Pong markets are held on the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th and 25th of the lunar month.
In Bao Lac
Ban Bo and Coc Pang markets are held on the 4th, 9, 14th, 19th, 24th and 29th of the lunar month.
In Nguyen Binh
The district market meets on the 3rd, 8, 13th, 18th, 23rd and 28th of the lunar month.
Tinh Tuc Market is held on the 3rd, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th and 30th of the lunar month.
Na Bao Market meets on the 3rd, 4th, 9, 14th, 19th, 24th and 29th of the lunar month.
In Ha Quang
Na Giang market meets on the 1st, 6th, 11, 16th, 21st and 26th of the lunar month.
Ban Gioi Market meets on the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th and 30th of the lunar month.
Soc Ha and Tong Co markets meet on the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd and 27th of the lunar calendar every month.
Nam Nhum Market meets on the 4th, 9, 14th, 19th, 24th and 29th of the lunar calendar every month.
In Thong Nong
Hang Thang Market is held on the 1st, 6th, 11th, 16th, 21st and 26th of every lunar month.
Bo Gai Market is held on the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd and 27th of each lunar month.
Tap Na Market is held on the 4th, 9, 14th, 19th, 24th and 29th of the lunar calendar every month.
In Hoa An
Nuoc Hai Market meets on the 3rd, 8th, 13th, 18th, 23rd and 28th of the lunar month.
Cao Binh Market meets on the 3rd, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th and 30th of the lunar month.
An Lai Market is held on the 3rd, 8, 13, 18, 23 and 28 of the lunar calendar every month.
In Phuc Hoa
Cach Linh Market is held on the 4th, 9, 14th, 19th, 24th and 29th of the lunar month.
The district market meets on the 3rd, 8th, 18th, 23rd and 28th of the lunar month.
In Ha Lang
The district market meets on the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th and 25th of the lunar month.
Bang Ca Market is held on the 3rd, 8th, 13th, 18th, 23rd and 28th of the lunar month.
Thi Hoa Market meets on the 4th, 9, 14th, 19th, 24th and 29th of the lunar calendar every month.
In Thach An
District and Na Coc markets meet on the 1st, 6th, 11th, 16th, 21st and 26th of the lunar month.
Nam Nang Market is held on the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd and 27th days of the lunar calendar.
Today, despite many changes in life, Cao Bang fair still retains the traditional cultural identity for generations, preserving the unique beauty of the highland people, so if traveling If Cao Bang omits this activity, it is indeed extremely flawed.