Lung Phin Market in Ha Giang is not only place of traditional selling and buying ritual but also where love begins among the young.
From Meo Vac Town, driving 15km along the scenic 4C Road of the route Dong Van – Meo Vac – Yen Minh to Lung Phin Commune, Meo Vac District, you should not miss the chance to experience Lung Phin Fair taking place on Monkey and Tiger days.
Market in Meo Vac district
This fair can be considered as a big festival of more than 16 minorities living around the Stone Plateau. It is one of the particular “backward fairs” in Northern Vietnam because the distance of two times of fair is steadily 6 days; if it happens on Tiger day this week, it will take place on Monkey day next week (Vietnamese calendar). Each fair lasts from 4am or 5am to 3pm or 4pm.
As the constant schedule, in the early morning, the ethnic people from villages backpack their goods to arrive in the fair on time. Specially, their goods are sometimes only a chicken, a dozen of egg, a bungle of sugarcane, or simply a pack of vegetable which show how simple the fair is and make visitors interested. They buy some goods like mint honey, Lung Phin Shan Tea, chicken and brocade products the most.
However, the girls and boys from far village coming here for not only barter but also fun and finding a haft of life. It’s reason why they put on themselves clothes as beautiful as they are in a real festival. The scenery is so fascinating by the charming and colorful costumes of ladies: H’mong girls in dresses decorated with flowery patterns, Red Dao girls in sparkling silver jewelry and even children wearing new dresses and following the adults to the fair.
Red Dao girls in sparkling silver jewelry
For the gentlemen in highlands, the fair is where they can gather; enjoy wine with the cuisine of “thang co” weekly. “Thang co” and wine are always run out of in pans and jars respectively with the spicy soup. Taking a sip of wine, they confide in others about their life and wish a better health. Boys and girls are drunk by the party, enjoy the sound of finding “life half” performed by Khen, a traditional musical instrument. The tourists are also curious to try flavour of “thang co” which fascinates any gourmet.
Thang co - Specialty of Ha Giang
The drunk boys sing:
“I’m calling you by my Khen
Why are you so immersed in your songs,
that you don’t listen to me?
I’m drunk and drunk now
If you feel like me
Please help me get on my horse
And follow me to my village
Follow me to my life”
The songs of the drunk are so fascinating and lovely. What about the girl? When they fall in love, they also take a sip of wine and sing:
“I can use needle for stitching
If you don’t feel like me, ignore me
If you feel like me, I will follow you
And we stay one night together
I’m skilful with yarn
If you feel like me, I will follow you
And we stay one night together”
After the fair, no one wants to leave. They promise to see each other in the next fair. And then, they bring their goods back to home and finish a memorable fair.
Once visiting Lung Phin Fair, you will have an exhaustive look at how unique the fair is and how simple but significant local life is.
(Collection)
