Bordering
with Chinese Yunnan Procince, Muong Khuong is a district of
Lao Cai Province which is home to a diversity of ethnic minority
groups including H’mong, Zao, Nung, Pa Zi and Tu Zi.
Located at the center of the township, Muong
Khuong Market, the most important market of the local
ethnic peoples takes place on every Sunday, is always crowded
with some thousands minority people from early morning. The
H’mong and the Zao peoples, especially women are always
wear their best colorful traditional costume and take the
largest number. The Tu Zi and Pazi are of minor number but
their traditional costume are of special model with dark color
and high top hats. There are also many ethnic minority people
come from the other side of the border, who often bring cheap
Chinese made commodity to add to the variety of goods for
sales at the market. Beside a collection of most popular commodity
such as clothes, vegetable, food, farming tools, animals…
which can be found in other market in the regions, some local
specialties can be found at Muong Khuong Market including
resin, incense made from tree bark, and medicinal herb for
treatment together with acupuncture. Our one day trip to Muong
Khuong from Sapa or from Lao Cai for those clients taking
Saturday night train from Hanoi offers not only a chance to
join the ethnic locals at this impressive market but also
many opportunities to pay visiting to near by villages and
admiring stunning scenery around the region.
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Muong
Khuong is 50km from Lao Cai, 1.5 hour to drive and 87km from
Sapa, which takes approximately 2.5 hours. |
