Ethnic costumes are sold at Mèo Vạc kermis. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu

Mèo Vạc kermis, held every Sunday, is the largest fair in the northern mountainous Hà Giang Province.

Mèo Vạc kermis is a destination for ethnic people in Đồng Văn karst plateau to gather and share their daily life stories. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu

Opening at 5am, it is not only a place for ethnic minority people of Mông, Dao, Lô Lô and Giáy, living on the Đồng Văn karst plateau to trade farming products and cattle, but also a destination for them to gather and share their daily life stories. The kermis has become an indispensable part of their culture.

Pigs are one of the best selling items at the kermis. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu

The origin of the local market is unclear, but it has preserved its rustic and traditional charm throughout the years. Since dawn, people from neighbouring villages and districts flock to Mèo Vạc Town through winding and hilly roads. Ethnic women wear intricate and vibrant traditional costumes representing their groups, brining a colourful atmosphere to the special market.

Customers taste home-made wine at Mèo Vạc kermis. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu

A wide array of local agricultural products is sold such as pigs, chickens, fish, bamboo shoots, maize, wild vegetables, medicinal leaves and honey. One special feature of the market is that there is no bargaining. Locals enthusiastically offer discounts to their acquaintances, or even exchange goods without cash.

An area dedicated to cow trading in Mèo Vạc kermis. Up to 400 cows are traded at every kermis. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu

One space in the kermis that attracts a large number of customers is the food area where they can taste typical rustic dishes of Hà Giang like thắng cố (a special dish of horse meat of Mông people), steaming hot five-coloured sticky rice or phở (noodle) cooked with beef or free-range chicken.

The food area at Mèo Vạc kermis attracts customers with rustic dishes. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu

Visitors to the region are always suggested to go to Mèo Vạc kermis to experience this unique local ethnic culture. Tourists can stay right in the centre of Đồng Văn Town or Mèo Vạc District, such as Đồng Văn Eco Stone House, Bụi homestay or Dao Lodge homestay.

From these places, they can be up bright and early to see the market in all its glory. — VNS

Customers can taste typical rustic dishes of Hà Giang like thắng cố, five-coloured sticky rice or phở (noodle) cooked with beef or free-range chicken. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu