Can Cau Market - untouched ethnic identity in northwest of Vietnam

Can Cau Market in the northwestern province of Lao Cai is one of the few of its kind that still keep traditional market activities of local ethnic minority groups.

Can Cau Market opens right on the sides of Road 153, linking Bac Ha and Si Ma Cai towns (Photo: VNA)

Can Cau Market usually opens on Saturdays and traditional festivals. Market-goers are mainly Mong and Giay ethnic minorities (Photo: VNA)

The market lasts from the early morning through noon (Photo: VNA)

Can Cau Market is divided into many areas selling various agricultura products produced by local ethnic minorities (Photo: VNA)

Brocade products sold at the market always attract visitors' attention because of their colours (Photo: VNA)

A woman sells chickens at Can Cau Market. Products at the market are mainly agricultural products like sugarcane, bee honey, alcohol, corn, buffaloes, and brocade (Photo: VNA)

Can Cau is considered the biggest buffalo market in the northwestern region when hundreds of buffaloes are brought here on each market day (Photo: VNA)

However, the number of buffaloes brought to Can Cau Market has declined in recent years (Photo: VNA)

Ethnic women talk to each other while going to the market (Photo: VNA)

Can Cau Market is also a venue for ethnics from faraway villages to meet one another (Photo: VNA)

A man enjoys a bowl of noodles at the market (Photo: VNA)

Photo: VNA

Many children follow their parents to go to the market (Photo: VNA)

Going to the market is a joy of children in the mountainous region (Photo: VNA)

VNA