Before the mountain mist has even lifted, Y Ty Market is already bustling with colour and activity. Produce grown by local Ha Nhi families fills the stalls, with much of it brought directly from their own farms.
So H Be, a resident ò· - Y Ty Commune, Lao Cai Province, said: "It is always busy here. On market day, we bring our produce here to sell. Everything is grown by our families. We do not buy it elsewhere to resell."
Located around 2,000 metres above sea level, Many Hà Nhì and Mông women wake as early as two or three in the morning to travel long distances with produce they have grown themselves.
The market begins early, but its appeal lasts throughout the day.
Nguyen Van Thang, a visitor from Ninh Binh Province, said: "I'm a writer so places like this excites me since it satisfies my curiosity and sense of discovery. I really like the distinctive culture here, and the market has not become overly commercialised."
For this kind of market, prices are generally fixed, with little bargaining or last-minute discounting just to clear stock.
Nguyen Thi Phung Thanh, a visitor, said: "What stands out is the ethnic culture — the clothing, the language and the locally produced goods. Buyers also feel confident about what they are purchasing. There is hardly any bargaining."
Lo A Sinh, vice chairman of the Y Ty Commune People's Committee in Lao Cai Province, said: "Y Ty Commune has two regular markets, held on Fridays and Saturdays. They have become part of the local tourism value chain, giving visitors a chance to experience and better understand markets in the northern border highlands."
With its distinctive culture and local traditions, Y Ty Market has also become part of tourism routes developed by the commune. The aim is not only to attract visitors, but to encourage them to stay longer, and give them another reason to return.
