Bac Ha
Lonelyplanet describes Bac Ha as following: "An unhurried and friendly town, Bac Ha makes a relaxed base to explore the northern highlands and hill-tribe villages. The atmosphere is very different to Sapa, and you can walk the streets freely without being accosted by hawkers. To experience a small untouristy mountain town, Bac Ha is an excellent destination.
The town has a certain charm, though its stock of traditional old adobe houses is dwindling and being replaced by concrete structures. Wood smoke fills the morning air and chickens and pigs poke around the back lanes. |
For six days a week, Bac Ha slumbers, but its lanes fill up to choking point each Sunday when tourists and Flower H’mong flood in for the weekly market. This Sunday market is a riot of colour and commerce, and while the influx of day trippers from Sapa is changing things fast, it’s still a worthwhile and relatively accessible place to visit.
There are 11 hill-tribe groups that live around Bac Ha: the colourful Flower H’mong are the most visible, but other groups include Dzao, Giay (Nhang), Han (Hoa), Xa Fang, Lachi, Nung, Phula, Tay, Thai and Thulao." Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/vietnam/northwest-vietnam/bac-ha#ixzz3q3Tk0MSM |