At San Thang fair in Lai Chau province (photo: dangcongsan.vn)

The San Thang fair is held near highway 4D on Thursday and Sunday morning. People from villages in Phong Tho and Tam Duong district come to the market in the early morning to sell their farm produce and hand-made tools. They carry in their papooses rice, vegetable, and fruits or shoulder sacks containing hoes, knives, sickles, shovels, kitchen tripods, pigs, chickens, and geese.

The products are grown on their farms, collected in the forest, or hand-made in their spare time. The goods are displayed on canvas sheets spread on the ground.

Dong Thi Thoa, a representative of the Tourism Management Office of the Lai Chau provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said: “The San Thang fair has existed for a long time. Recently the province made the fair into a tourism attraction of the northwestern region. To the two original sessions on Thursday and Sunday morning, we’ve added a session on Saturday evening. At the San Thang fair, tourists can sample local cuisine, such as horse hotpot, pho noodles, and Giay popcorn cakes. We are proud to introduce our specialties to Vietnamese and foreign tourists.”

The San Thang fair sells many specialties of the mountains and forests that are part of the culture of local ethnic groups.

“Bánh bò, a type of sponge cake made from rice flour, water, sugar and yeast, is a famous cake made by the Giáy ethnic people. Almost every time I come to the San Thang market, my family eats pho and bánh bò,” said Thoa.

San Thang night market (photo: Bao Cong Thuong)

The local brocade products attract a lot of tourists. Thao A De, who sells brocade products made in Ta Leng commune, Tam Duong district, said: “Visitors often buy these clothes. I earn an average of 100 USD per day.”

The culinary corner is always crowded with people eager to try the local dishes. Mrs Thoa said: “The phở of the Giay is a must-try at the San Thang fair. All the ingredients are natural. The Giay have their own way of making pho noodles and broth. It’s interesting to watch the Giay women cutting the pho noodles.”

The San Thang night market on Saturday sells a variety of dishes and has a stage for folk music performances.

“Cultural performances showcasing the local ethnic culture make the San Thang night market fantastic. At every market session we stage performances by Lai Chau city art troupes,” said Thoa.