Can Cau market – an interesting & authentic market of local hilltribes to hang on in your Sapa trip
Can Cau market, a must-visited place on your trip to Sapa & Bac Ha region.
Can Cau market is located in a remote corner of Si Ma Cai district, 22 km far from Bac Ha town and will take you 3 hours to reach from Lao Cai city (90km far from) and 4 hours to get there if you are travelling from Sapa (130km from Sapa town).Because of its far location to reach, so the market is quite authentic & so interesting where you can experience local ethnics in their uniquely traditional dresses coming from different regions to exchange their goods : vegetables, fabrics, buffaloes, cows…; to socialize with eachother; and to enjoy fun of meeting friends again…..
Baby with his mom go to the market
In our recent trip to Northwest Mountain of Vietnam, we got chances to attend this market, we were so much impressive about its authentic beauty.The market is organised on every Saturday on the open ground, near the main road, by the mountainside, looking down the scenic valley.The products are arranged into different sections : one is for vegetables, another is for drinking & eating; livestocks of chickens, dogs & cats are selling in one place, and one down the valley is for buffalow trading.
Nice dress to the market
In the market, we could meet different ethnic groups in their colorful uniforms unique for their culture & traditions such as Flower Hmong, Black Hmong, Red Zao, Nung…..happily taking part in the market.They chatted with eachother on their own languages, ate and drank happily.It is understandable that most of them live scattered on remote mountainsides, not normal to meet eachother so this trade fair is not only a place for selling or buying the goods but also a good chance to meet friends again. Some of them have become husband & wife after getting to know eachother in the market.
Bargain & chat to buy the vegetable
Compare with Bac Ha market, Can Cau is a smaller one and less frequently visited by mass tourism so we can expect to get a good sense of local cultures & less touristy attraction.Local ethnics are naturally friendly as they are, not influenced by the modern life…..
The market starts early and finishes around 13h00 to 14h00 p.m but for the best moment of big crowd of local ethnics, between 10h00 a.m & 11h00 a.m is the right time to have a full sense of its beauty.
Not only the beauty of the market itself, the journey from Bac Ha town to Can Cau market offers you an outstanding view of magnificient mountains & valleys of rice terraces as well.
It is a long journey to reach this market but worth visiting it when you are travelling to Bac Ha town or Sapa region.
Buffalo section in Can Cau market
How to do get to Can Cau market?
This market is organized weekly on Sarturday so you need to arrange your trip right on that week day.If you do it on your own from Hanoi, you can catch an overnight train Hanoi to Lao Cai on Friday, you arrive Lao Cai railway station in early morning, then you walk about 10 minutes to Lao Cai bus station and ask for the bus to Si Ma Cai district, en route you can get down to Can Cau market ( just a few bus in a day passing that region).
Mountains & valley scapes on the way
The efficient way is getting the trip organized by private tours or renting a private car with driver in connection with your journey to Sapa & Bac Ha
You can follow this travel itinerary to visit Sapa, Can Cau & Bac Ha market on a 3 day journey from Hanoi.
- Day 1 ( Friday). Hanoi – Sapa by private car ( 5.5 hour drive), trekking to visit Muong Hoa valley.Overnight in Sapa.
- Day 2 (Saturday). Sapa drive to Can Cau market ( 4 hour drive) along scenic mountains, visit Can Cau, Hoang A Tuong Palace.Overnight in Bac Ha town.
- Day 3( Sunday). Bac Ha market visit in the morning & drive back to Hanoi capital.
We operate this trip in private Sapa tours or supply the service of private car hire Hanoi- Sapa- Can Cau- Bac Ha markets – Hanoi.In need of local consultancy, please, email us to [email protected] or whatsapp us to +84.988451530 ( whatsapp)
See you there & have a good trip !.
Golden Holiday Travel Team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Cau Market is a weekly fair that takes place every Saturday morning, starting as early as 7:30 AM and usually winding down by early afternoon. To see the market at its most vibrant, it is best to arrive between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM when the trading is most active and the local Flower Hmong people are gathered in their finest traditional attire.
Can Cau Market is located in Si Ma Cai District, approximately 120 km (about 75 miles) from Sapa town and 20 km from Bac Ha. The journey takes about 3 hours by car. Because the mountain roads are winding and can be challenging, most travelers book a private car with a driver or join a guided tour with Golden Holiday Travel to ensure a safe and comfortable trip.
While both are famous northern markets, Can Cau is smaller, more rustic, and less touristy than Bac Ha. It is particularly famous for being the largest buffalo market in the region. If you are looking for an authentic experience where the locals focus on trading livestock and agricultural goods rather than selling souvenirs to tourists, Can Cau is the superior choice.
The market is a cultural melting pot, primarily dominated by the Flower Hmong (known for their incredibly colorful, meticulously stitched garments). You will also encounter the Black Zao, Tay, Nung, and Giay ethnic minorities. It is an excellent place for photography and learning about the diverse hill tribe cultures of the Vietnam-China border region.
Don’t miss the chance to try local corn wine, a specialty of the Simacai and Bac Ha regions. For food, many travelers enjoy sitting at the open-air stalls to try “Thang Co” (a traditional horse meat soup). If you want to take a piece of culture home, the market is filled with hand-woven brocade fabrics, ethnic jewelry, and traditional tools handcrafted by the local artisans.
Yes! A popular itinerary with Golden Holiday Travel involves visiting Can Cau Market on Saturday, staying overnight in a Bac Ha homestay, and then exploring the larger Bac Ha Market on Sunday. This “Market Loop” allows you to fully immerse yourself in the highland culture and enjoy short treks to nearby villages like Ban Pho or Trung Do.
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