These features are imprints of the identities of various local ethnic minority groups including the Giay and Mong.

The market takes place every Saturday. VNA/VNS Photos Le Minh Son

The market is on Road 153, the only road linking Bac Ha Town with Si Ma Cai Town.

The market gathers hundreds of locals on Saturdays and public holidays, running early morning to the afternoon.

People offer agricultural produces.

Locals bring various kinds of goods to trade here like agricultural products, clothes and household utensils. The market also has a large area for selling buffaloes.

From afar, the market looks vivid with the colours of goods and ethnic clothes. Approaching closer, one can hear sounds of the laughter of people, who come not only to trade but also to socialise.

Surrounding the market are terraced rice fields on the vast mountains.

People can find local delicacies like thắng cố (a kind of stewed horse meat, intestines and herbs), maize wine and also traditional weaved cloth.

The food area is always bustling.

Each market day trades in hundreds of buffaloes from Bac Ha, Si Ma Cai, Muong Khuong, Ha Giang and Yen Bai. Sometimes, locals hold buffalo fights for entertainment.

Locals consider buffaloes as important property and they come to Can Cau Market to buy strong buffaloes to help them in farming. They also seek fertile buffaloes to breed future herds.

People choose buffaloes at the market.

Many locals also come here to seek weak buffaloes for a cheap price. They bring them home to feed them well and sell them at the same market later in the year for a higher price.

People come to the market to catch up with their friends.

Local authorities plan to develop the cultural features of markets as a tourism product for the region. VNS

Unique buffalo market in northern mountainous commune

Every Saturday morning, Si Ma Cai District in the northwestern mountainous province of Lao Cai bustles with a large-scale buffalo market on the National Highway 153 in Can Cau Commune.

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