Dong Van Market has long become a close and sacred part of the cultural life of the highland people in Ha Giang. When visitors come here, they can admire the beautiful mountain views. They can also enjoy visiting the market and many fun activities. Join Ha Giang City Hostel to explore amazing places and learn more about Dong Van Market in this article!
About Dong Van Market in Ha Giang Vietnam
Coming to Dong Van Market, you will witness many vivid scenes of a highland market. Below is information about the location, opening time and architectural characteristics at Dong Van Session:
Location and opening time
Dong Van Market is located in the heart of Dong Van city, Ha Giang province, located next to the center near the old town. This is one of the busiest markets in the area. It attracts many sellers and shoppers from different ethnic groups.
Dong Van fair takes place every Sunday and starts from 5 – 6 am. However, to experience the bustling atmosphere of the market, you should start exploring the market before 8 am.
The market will be less exciting after 10 am. It will slowly get quieter as the afternoon goes on. This is when local people start cleaning up after selling their products.
Architecture
Dong Van Fair was built between 1925 and 1928. It has a unique U-shaped design. This design blends Vietnamese and Chinese architectural styles. The designers built the market’s structure to fit the feng shui of the highlands and the rocky Ha Giang mountains.
In addition, the large stone columns of the market have large width, exquisitely carved with every meticulous detail. This has made Dong Van market a strong and important part of the local culture.
Dong Van Market with unique U shaped architecture
How to go there?
From Hanoi, you will take about 6 hours to move to Ha Giang by bus or car. Then move about 130km to depart from Ha Giang city to Dong Van market. However, because the road is quite narrow, it will take about a day to arrive.
Recommended accommodation in Dong Van
To have a full visit to Dong Van market, do not forget to find a place here before starting. Here are some holidays that many tourists appreciate:
Location: Lam Dong village, Phuong Thien commune, Ha Giang
- Dong Van Old Town Market
Location: Dong Van, Dong Van District, Ha Giang, Vietnam
- Lam Tung Hotel
Location: Dong Van, Dong Van District, Ha Giang, Vietnam
- Hoa Cuong Hotel
Location: Dong Van village, Dong Van District, Ha Giang, Vietnam
- Old Houses Homestay
Location: Dong Van, Dong Van District, Ha Giang, Vietnam
- Dong Van Bar hotel
Location: Doan Ket village, Dong Van District, Ha Giang, Vietnam
When is the best time to visit Dong Van Sunday Market?
Dong Van Market is open every Sunday and the major cultural events take place in the middle of the month. This is an event organized for tourists, so you plan for the visit so as not to miss the interesting days of the market.
A tip is to visit the Dong Van Fair in September. You can see the terraced fields during the ripe rice season. They are covered in a beautiful golden color.
What makes Dong Van Market an interesting destination?
Dong Van Market impresses tourists and highland people in Ha Giang thanks to interesting points that are not everywhere.
A variety of unique products
Shopping at Dong Van market lets you explore the features of Ha Giang. It is also a special cultural experience. As you walk around the stalls, you will find many interesting items. These include spices, rare herbs, specialty foods, household appliances, and pet animals.
The most prominent is the brilliant brocade fabric stalls, traditional costumes woven, and ready -made sewing items. Visitors can also buy specialties such as chili sauce, white roots, fermented tofu, buffalo meat guard or seasonal fruits.
Many items are sold at Dong Van Market
Plenty of local specialties
Dong Van Fair brings a high -rise culinary experience with many unique specialties. Visitors can enjoy victory, mét, sour, or black banh chung and fresh boiled vegetables are also attractive options. In particular, passionate corn wine – an indispensable specialty at the fairs, will definitely leave an unforgettable impression.
The unique cultural identity
The Ha Giang upland market is special because it only meets on Sundays. It is not just for buying and selling. It also serves as a cultural exchange for ethnic minorities.
These events will attract the H’Mong, Dao, Tay, and Nung people. They will come to trade goods, join folk games, and show how to weave brocade.
Special cultural only available at Dong Van Session
Fresh products
In the Dong Van Fair, there will be an area reserved for those who sell fresh products. Here, you can easily find a variety of fruits, vegetables and meat to choose from.
Street food
In addition, Dong Van Fair also has many attractive street dishes. If you love a new experience, you can enjoy breakfast in the bustling atmosphere of the market. Sitting with colorful ethnic groups, visitors will enjoy the unique taste of hot dishes processed right on the fire.
Do not forget to enjoy specialty dishes when visiting Dong Van Ha Giang
Games & haircuts
In a corner of Dong Van market, you can find the lively folk game area. Here, people come together to enjoy the busy atmosphere.
The market has a unique feature. There is a barber working in the middle of the outdoor space. This makes the highland market special.
Live stock
Next to the market is a busy area for buying cattle. This is where people sell buffaloes, cows, pigs, chickens, and other animals. For many tourists, this is a special moment. It allows them to see how buying, selling, and bargaining work.
Some ethnic minorities show their cattle without wanting to buy or sell. This creates a unique culture in the upland market.
Dong Van Fair also impressed with the display of live stock
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What to eat in Dong Van Market?
When visiting Dong Van market, people can find and enjoy the special foods of the Northwestern mountain people. Such as:
Thang Co – A soup from cow viscera
Thang tried to cook from cow organs, not pork or horse as many people mistakenly think, because horse meat is exceptionally rare. After initial preparation, the chef will marinate the internal organs in over 12 common mountain spices. One of these spices is cardamom, which creates a memorable fragrance.
The cook simmers the dish for about an hour before the fire, causing the fragrance to spread in the cold weather. The H’Mong people gathered around the pot to win, sipping each hot bowl and a cup of spicy corn wine. For them, drinking alcohol with friends is not only a habit but also fun – more friends, more and more cups of wine invited.
Thang Co is a typical dish of Ha Giang highland
Corn Wine
Corn wine is the “gift” not to be missed when visiting Dong Van market. Shoppers usually find the alcohol area in the corner of the market, where they line up cans of 10 to 20 liters. Alcohol has an alcohol content of about 25 – 30, measured in a cup, then closes into a large and small can.
Corn wine is an important part of the meetings in Dong Van
The buckwheat cake
Dong Van Market offers more than just wine. They also sell cakes made from buckwheat seeds. Farmers harvest, dry, and grind the seeds into flour. The soft, porous buckwheat cake with sweetness spreads when sipping slowly.
The cake is not too wet like glutinous rice flour. It is a bit greasy and has a spicy taste. This flavor comes from the trees in the Dong Van stone forest. It creates a memorable taste for visitors at the highland market.
The buckwheat cake is very suitable to enjoy in the cool space of the rocky plateau
Xoi Ngu Sac – Colorful sticky rice
The Northwestern winter sticky rice is not just pretty with its bright colors. It also has a special smell from the colored leaves. Sticky seeds and the special flavor of this sticky rice make for a memorable experience. Anyone who tries it will not forget it.
This type of sticky rice is not just tasty; it is also meaningful. It shows the harmony of the “five elements,” love, respect for parents, and the faithful love between couples. In addition, it is also a symbol of good luck, good, showing the desire for happiness and peace in life.
Each color of the five -colored sticky rice has its own meaning, symbolizing the five elements, love, luck and affluence
Com Lam – Bamboo tube rice
Lam Bac Me Rice is a special dish from Ha Giang. It is not only tasty but also shows the unique culture of the Northeastern people.
They cook this rice in bamboo tubes and cork. This method gives it a unique flavor. The sticky rice combines well with the natural aroma of bamboo. Grillers cook the rice over charcoal for the best taste.
This simple yet elegant cooking has made a tasty lam rice. It is hard for visitors to resist coming to Ha Giang.
Com Lam is a favorite dish when coming to Ha Giang
Banh Cuon – Steam rice roll
Dong Van roll cake was once a common breakfast for locals. Now, it is a famous specialty of Ha Giang. This change is due to the growth of tourism. This dish is not picky, but has its own attraction.
The simple and honest ingredients, along with the special way of making them, create a unique flavor. Any tourist visiting Dong Van old town cannot miss this roll.
Dong Van roll cake attracts visitors by the unique and simple way of processing
Tips for visiting Dong Van Market
To visit Dong Van Market smoothly and interesting, you need to “pocket” some useful tips below:
- Dong Van is usually colder than other places in Ha Giang. You should check the weather before your visit. Make sure to pack warm clothes.
- The road to Dong Van market is winding and quite steep. If you travel by motorbike, stay calm and get used to the terrain. You can also rent a motorbike tour for a safer trip.
- Dong Van fair is very wide and you have to walk a lot. So, wear sports shoes to comfortably move.
- Most transactions at the market use cash, you should bring enough money to easily shop.
- The stalls at the market will have a price difference. You should check the price and quality before buying, especially buying as gifts.
- While visiting the market, keep your furniture close to avoid losing it in this crowded space.
The road to Dong Van is quite winding
Other must-visit markets in Dong Van District
Besides Dong Van Fair, Dong Van district has many other interesting markets. Each market provides a unique cultural experience.
- Dong Van Night Market: After exploring Dong Van rock plateau, Dong Van night market is an indispensable experience. They hold the market on the 14th, 15th, and 16th of the lunar calendar each month. The streets are bright with red lanterns, creating a mysterious and warm space. Local people display unique brocade products and traditional dishes, bringing a unique cultural atmosphere for visitors.
- Fox flea market: The market is open early in the morning and closed at noon. Here, you will find all kinds of products from iridescent sticky rice, steamed dumplings to brocade, herbs, bags and watches. The market’s highlight is its wide range of ethnic costumes. This is a great choice for anyone looking for unique souvenirs and bold cultural items.
- Rooster Sa Phin: This is one of four stone plateau markets. The Sa Phin market happens every six days.
It meets a week later than the last market. From early morning to 3-4 pm, people gather to exchange agricultural products, food and valuable medicinal herbs. This is a place where people enjoy wine and talk to friends or loved ones. It creates a warm and friendly atmosphere in the highland market.
- Lung Phin flea market: This is where locals exchange goods such as chickens, eggs and vegetables. The market is also famous for its specialties such as mint honey, Lung Phin snow tea and hill chicken. This is not just a place to buy and sell. It is also where young people from nearby villages meet potential partners.
Dong Van Market is a place that keeps many important traditional values. It serves the people in the highlands of Ha Giang and attracts tourists too.
If you can, visit the Dong Van Ha Giang Fair. You will enjoy the colorful beauty and lively atmosphere of the activities there. Also, if you need any trip to Ha Giang, do not hesitate to contact Ha Giang City Hostel!
>>> Find out more: Ha Giang travel guide & best things to do
