People from villages within a 10-kilometer radius arrive at Meo Vac Market, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of early spring. Despite the crowds, vendors say the turnout is "nothing compared to the days leading up to Tet."
Many locals believe the market has retained its authenticity, remaining untouched by tourism that has transformed other markets in the region.
The market is divided into three main sections: an outer area selling produce, household goods and farming tools; a food court; and the livestock zone, also known as the cattle market.
Trading begins at dawn and winds down by late afternoon, with peak activity taking place from 7:30 a.m. to early afternoon.
There is no hawking here and few outsiders, with only the occasional foreign traveler wandering in with a guide.
For many men, the market is as much about socializing as it is about commerce, an opportunity to share cups of rice wine with friends.
At the heart of the market lies the food area with a haze rising from wood-fired stoves. Locals and visitors gather here to enjoy specialties such as thang co or horsemeat stew, pho and steamed rice rolls.
Beyond the food stalls is a small corner where traditional clothing is sold. Pan Chi Tac, dressed in black, traveled more than 13 kilometers to sell his goods, but had yet to make a sale by midday. Nevertheless, he returns week after week, drawn by the market's atmosphere.
He said: "Meo Vac is the liveliest market in Ha Giang Province. The Dao, H'Mong and other peoples come here. In some markets now, you only see tourists."
Tuong Vi and Dam Phuong Thao from Hanoi chose Meo Vac as a stop on their journey and were struck by its energy. They tried a bowl of chicken pho for breakfast and noticed its cloudy broth and lack of lime leaf aroma unlike the Hanoi version, but enjoyed its richer flavor.
Both found the market full of hidden corners perfect for exploration and photography though the food offerings cater primarily to local tastes.
About 200 meters from the food area is the cattle market, where traders line up their animals for inspection and bargaining. If prices fail to meet expectations, the cattle are led home to await the next market day.
At a session, 100-200 cows are typically sold.
Many traders travel overnight to arrive in time for the early morning trade. On average, a cow fetches over VND20 million ($758).
