Every Sunday morning, people from all over the Ha Giang rocky plateau wake up early, on winding roads snaking around the mountain slopes, heading to the central market of Meo Vac for the weekly market gathering. People from various ethnic groups like H’Mong, Dao, Lô Lô… all dressed vibrantly, carrying local products, from livestock, fabrics, agricultural produce to medicinal herbs.

Meeting only once a week on Sundays, the Meo Vac market isn’t just a place for trading; it’s also where people gather, share cultural exchanges, and connect with their ethnic heritage. For men, it’s a spot to socialize over drinks alongside a hot pot. Children are carried on their mothers’ backs.

The most fascinating part is the livestock market. Here, people bring pigs, goats, deer, cows, and dogs for sale. The food section offers a variety of highland specialties like “thắng cố” (a local dish) and pho. For men, it’s also a place to socialize over drinks alongside the hot pot each week.

As the largest market in Ha Giang, the Meo Vac market retains its simplicity, rawness, vibrant colors, and sounds, embodying the essence of the highland region.