If you are still wondering what to buy in Ha giang or which is Ha Giang specialties that you should not miss when traveling there ? Dont worry, the following list below will help you find out as a local’s viewpoint:
Mục lục
- 1. Buffalo meat hanging up the kitchen
- 2. Corn wine
- 3. Mint honey
- 4. Buckwheat cake
- 5. Brocade
- 6. Docynia indica
- 7. Fair list in Ha giang
- 1. Quyet Tien market in Quan Ba district
- 2. Central market in Quan Ba district
- 3. Trang Ke Market in Quan Ba district
- 4. Central market of Yen Minh district
- 5. Mau Due Market, Yen Minh District
- 6. Du Gia Market in Yen Minh district
- 7. Central market of Dong Van district
- 8. Pho Cao Market, Dong Van District
- 9. Lung Phin Market, Dong Van District
- 10. Central market of Meo Vac district
- 11. Central market in Hoang Su Phi district
- 12. Xin Man Central Market (CocPai Market)
1. Buffalo meat hanging up the kitchen
This dish is made from fresh buffalo meat and a product of the black Thai people. After slaughter, people marinate it with various spices and then hang up the kitchen to dry. Smoke from kitchen gradually will make them ripe without cooking. Thats why buffalo hanging up the kitchen tastes special but not uncomfortable due to smelly smoke. Actually I am not a fan of this speciality, just a little bit weird for me.^_^^ You can try it when visiting there.
Place to buy : in any market in Ha giang.
2. Corn wine
Corn wine is truly a specialty of H’mong ethnic people. Wine is cooked from corn seeds grown on rocky mountains along with traditional leave’s yeast . It has an aroma of corn and tastes really good. Alcohol is completely fermented naturally with quality ingredients and the alcohol level of the wine is not too high, just about 25 – 30 degrees on average.
Price: 30.000- 50.000/l. You should buy them from H’mong ethnic people in fair market to ensure that those are real corn wine made from leave’s yeast.
3. Mint honey
Mint honey is known as a famous specialty in Ha Giang that many people buy it as a gift. In spites of the fact that mint honey is a famous speciality, not everyone can own a bottle due to its special processing and limited quantity.
Peppermint honey with a sweet taste and special cool aroma of mint give you the most relaxing feeling when enjoying it. Pure mint honey is only available in November and December . They are very nutritious with various ingredients such as Fructose, Glucose; Many vitamins and nutrients such as vitamins B1, A, … Iron, magnesium, phosphorus, …. Therefore the price of it is not cheap comparing to other speciality. Mint honey might be one of the best option if you are still wondering what to buy in Ha giang as a luxury gift.
Price: 400.000- 600.000 VND
4. Buckwheat cake
Buckwheat is the most famous flower in Ha Giang and many tourist come there just because of its bloom season. There is no reason if you come here to enjoy flowers but not buying something made from this tree.
Buckwheat ‘s seeds after being harvested are dried and then ground into flour to make cakes. Cake made buckwheat seeds are very soft and spongy. Dont forget to eat buckwheat cake if you are a foodie and still do not know What to buy in Ha giang.
5. Brocade
Brocade is a class of richly decorative shuttle-woven fabrics, often made in coloured silks. Traditional brocade fabrics made by Mong ethnic minority people in the northern province of Ha Giang have become popular among local and international visitors. You can easily buy Brocade in any fair market or Lung tam linen cooperative. This place is known for its long-standing traditional craft of brocade weaving. The art of making linen fabric has been passing from generations to generations in Lung Tam. What to buy in Ha giang as a souvenir ? Brocade would be definitely your best choice.
6. Docynia indica
People traveling to Ha giang often buy Docynia indica in order to make homemade wine. This is a small, crunchy, slightly acidic, slightly bitter fruit . This fruit is considered as a natural gift for H’mong compatriots due to its economic value. You can eat them raw or soak with wine.
Alternatively, Docynia indica wine is an effective medicine to treat high blood pressure, which is used by many Vietnamese nowadays.
Prices : 30,000 – 50,000 VND / kg depending on the time and quality of fruits.
Over all, what to buy in Ha giang depend on each other’s demand or characteristics. However don’t forget to taste them if you have chance especial mint honey or corn wine.
See more: Review list of delicious restaurants in Ha giang.
7. Fair list in Ha giang
Ha Giang as well as many other mountainous areas often have market day which is seen as a profound cultural activity . In Ha Giang, there are often back-to-back fair because the market day alternates every week. For example, this week the market is held on Sunday. Then next week , market day will be held on Saturday, the next following week it will be taken place on Friday…
However not all market are hold according to this calendar. Fair in the district center is often hold on Sunday every week. The list below describes more detail about those fair and you can decide which market to go depend on your time there. Still do not know what to buy in Ha giang ? Come to any market in Ha giang and you will have a variety of choices when you are there.
1. Quyet Tien market in Quan Ba district
+ Location: 7 km from the center of Tam Son town and 38 km from Ha Giang city
+ Market time: Every Saturday and usually only last until noon.
+ Characteristics: The market is located right along the highway 4C, with a scale of over 1,000 m2.
+ Local specialties: Corn wine, soybean, brocade.
2. Central market in Quan Ba district
+ Location: In the center of Tam Son town, Quan Ba district
+ Market time: Sunday and last until the end of the afternoon.
+ Characteristics: Being the biggest market of the district, meeting regularly on every Sunday.
+ Local specialties: corn wine, soybeans, buffalo meat hanging up the kitchen and brocade goods, silver jewelry.
3. Trang Ke Market in Quan Ba district
+ Location: 12 km from the center of Tam Son town,
+ Market time: Thursday and usually only last until noon.
+ Characteristics: Trade and goods exchange activities is quite bustling.
+ Local specialties: Corn wine, brocade products, medicinal herbs, fruits and vegetables.
4. Central market of Yen Minh district
+ Location: Located in the center of Yen Minh town.
+ Market time: The main market takes place on Sundays, market days usually only last until noon.
+ Characteristics: This is the biggest market in the district, meeting all weekdays.
+ Local specialties: Wine, agricultural products, buffalo meat, medicinal herbs, fruits and vegetables.
5. Mau Due Market, Yen Minh District
+ Location: Located in the center of Mau Due commune, along Yen Minh – Meo Vac roads.
+ Market time: Wednesday and Sunday every week and usually only last until noon and mostly on Sunday.
+ Characteristics: This is one of the most crowded market in Yen Minh district.
+ Local specialties: corn wine, soybean and brocade.
6. Du Gia Market in Yen Minh district
+ Location: 65 km from the center of Yen Minh town to the Southeast, on the axis of Mau Due road (Yen Minh) – Minh Son (Bac Me).
+ Market time: Friday every week and usually only lasts until noon.
+ Local specialties: Corn wine, win-win, brocade and knitting products.
7. Central market of Dong Van district
+ Location: In the district center, right next to the district People’s Committee.
+ Market time: Sunday and usually lasts all day.
+ Characteristics: This is the largest scale market in the highlands.
+ Local specialties: corn wine, agricultural products, beef, honey, triumph, medicinal herbs and fruits.
8. Pho Cao Market, Dong Van District
+ Location: 25 km from Dong Van town center
+ Market time: is the back to back fair market every 6 days, usually only lasts until noon.
+ Characteristics: The market is near the National Highway 4C, with scale of over 1,000 m2.
+ Local specialties such as corn wine, soybean, brocade.
9. Lung Phin Market, Dong Van District
+ Location: 35 km from the center of Dong Van town and 15 km from Meo Vac town, on the axis of Dong Van – Meo Vac – Yen Minh roads.
+ Market time: is a back-up market.
+ Characteristics: This is a big market, unique and imbued with the highest regional identity.
+ Specialty products: mint honey, Lung Phin tea, corn wine, dry beef, brocade.
10. Central market of Meo Vac district
+ Location: Located in the center of town, near the stadium.
+ Time 10. Central market of Meo Vac district
+ Location: Located in the center of town, near the stadium.
+ Market time: Every Sunday, people are present from the previous night and last all day.
+ Characteristics: The market is located in the center of the largest scale đistrict. Goods here are plentiful and diverse.
+ Specialty products: Cow, goat, corn wine, honey, brocade, fruit.
11. Central market in Hoang Su Phi district
+ Location: In Quang Vinh town center, opposite the District Committee.
+ Market time: Saturday, Sunday every week.
+ Characteristics: The market is quite large, with a 2-storey main market.
+ Local specialty products: Tho Nang wine, bamboo shoots and tea.
12. Xin Man Central Market (CocPai Market)
+ Location: Located in the center of Coc Pi town.
+ Market time: Every Saturday and usually only last until noon.
+ Characteristics: The market has a scale of over 1,000 m2.
+ Local specialties: Corn wine, tea, buffalo meat.
See more: Ha giang loop motorbike 3 days itinerary by a local.
Overall, shopping in Ha giang will be a unique experience for you when travelling in Viet Nam. No shopping mall, no supermarket, just a place you can trade self-made goods and exchange cultures . It is definitely one of the must-do things to do in Ha giang that no one should not miss. If you are still wondering what to buy in Ha giang, just come and join in the fair !!
