What is the Meo Vac Sunday Market?
Meo Vac Sunday Market is the largest ethnic minority market in Ha Giang, located in Meo Vac town, deep in the mountains of northern Vietnam. Every Sunday, thousands of people from surrounding villages gather here to trade, socialize, and connect with friends and family. Many of them walk for kilometers from remote villages or even arrive the night before, making it not just a market but an important weekly event for local communities.
What makes this market in Ha Giang so special is the colorful ethnic diversity. The market is a melting pot of cultures, where Hmong, Dao, Tay, Giay, and Nung people come together, each wearing their distinct traditional clothing. Women dress in brightly embroidered skirts, headscarves, and handmade jewelry, while men often wear simple black jackets and pants. The market is full of energy—locals bargain over fresh produce, livestock, and handmade goods, while others gather to drink corn wine and enjoy a morning meal. It is an authentic and vibrant experience, offering one of the best things to do in Ha Giang for travelers looking to witness the raw beauty of ethnic life in northern Vietnam.
Exploring the Meo Vac market
Already around 5 in the morning the market will start on the streets around the indoor market. You can see clothes, cloths, rice, kitchen items, corn wine and even stalls selling cell phones, from fairly old to modern smartphones. The best way to explore is just walk by or stand at one of the stalls and observe what they are doing. You can even try to bargain at one of the stalls where they sell local minority stuff, that you could use as a souvenir.
It is very colorful and amazing to see how to ethnic minorities are dressed. The locals from the different minority villages wear their traditional clothing. The men often wear a black jacket with pants and the women colorful skirts, shirts and scarves and some with a large basket to carry the purchased items. You see most people smile, laugh and chat, because the market is more then a trading day, it is a time for socializing. Children gather around the stalls with toys or small jewelry. Adults drinking beer and corn wine together (before breakfast). Despite all the craziness around you, the whole market has actually a very relaxed atmosphere.
The cattle market
The northern part of the market is the most interesting, the cattle market. Here you see small piglets, goats, chickens, ducks, cows and even puppies that are sold along the street. Here, merchants inspect the water buffalo or cattle that are offered. Be careful when walking at the market, because the animals don’t care where to empty their bladder. Not all people sell their cows, dogs or pigs on the market; some just bring them to show.
It is fascinating to see what is happening on the Meo Vac cattle market. You see here how all the parts of the animals is being checked by traders before a sale is completed. You see ethnic minorities walking with a piglet with a leash, men holding a number of chickens while motorbikes and scooters pass where chickens are attached with their legs and hang down, or a cage on the back of the motorcycle with a pig in it. It’s anything but boring, and you could spend a long time watching the people here, but some tourists might find this shocking.
Indoor market
There is also an area of the Meo Vac Sunday market indoor. The noise of conversations and negotiations and the smell of the food gives the covered market a very lively feeling. In a smaller area of the indoor market you can find a lot of food, like meat, vegetables and fruit. In the main hall you see a lot of food stalls with an open fire where soup is cooked or meat grilled. This gives a unique image, but it also makes it very smoky. You can have a good breakfast here and it is very cheap. The rest of the hall is full of stalls with more vegetables, rice and other goods. It can get crowded when it starts raining outside.
Travel tips for visiting Meo Vac Market
Meo Vac Market is held only once a week, so you’ll likely have just one chance to experience it. To make the most of your visit, it’s important to plan ahead. Here are some essential tips to help you prepare:
1. Stay in Meo Vac the night before
The market starts very early in the morning, and if you’re not already in Meo Vac, you risk arriving too late to see it in full swing. For the best experience, plan to arrive in Meo Vac the day before and stay overnight. This ensures you can explore the market when it’s busiest, between 7 and 8 AM.
2. Be Prepared for the Livestock and Meat Sections
The cattle market is one of the most fascinating parts of Meo Vac Market, but it can also be shocking for some visitors. Expect to see buffalo, pigs, goats, and chickens being bought and sold, sometimes tied to motorbikes or kept in small cages. The indoor meat section is equally raw and real, with butchers at work and fresh meat being prepared. If this isn’t for you, there are still plenty of other sections of the market to explore.
3. This is a real market, mot a tourist attraction
Meo Vac Market is not designed for tourists—it’s a place where locals shop for clothing, farming tools, household goods, and fresh produce. You won’t find souvenirs here, but you will get a completely authentic experience of local life. Another bonus: very few other tourists visit this market, making it even more special.
4. Respect the local culture
This market is not just about trade—it’s a social event for the ethnic minorities of Ha Giang. Their way of life may be very different from yours, and while it’s normal to be curious, it’s important to observe with respect. The traditional clothing of the ethnic groups is incredibly colorful and beautiful, and you might want to take photos. If capturing close-up portraits, always ask for permission first, as some people may feel uncomfortable being photographed.
5. If you’re in Dong Van on a Sunday, visit the Dong Van Market
If your itinerary places you in Dong Van instead of Meo Vac on a Sunday, you don’t need to change your plans. Dong Van Market is slightly smaller than Meo Vac Market, but it’s just as authentic and vibrant, with local ethnic groups gathering to trade and socialize. It’s a fantastic alternative if you can’t make it to Meo Vac. For more markets across Ha Giang, check out this list of markets in Ha Giang.
Accommodation in Meo Vac
For the best experience at Meo Vac Market, it’s highly recommended to stay overnight in Meo Vac the night before so you can visit the market early in the morning when it is most vibrant. While Meo Vac has fewer accommodation options than Dong Van, it still offers a good variety of homestays and budget hotels that are comfortable enough for a short stay.
If you prefer a more traditional setting, there are homestays located just outside the town, offering a more authentic experience in the surrounding villages. One well-known area for accommodation is Pa Vi Village, located about 10 minutes from Meo Vac. The village is newly built for tourism, with all houses constructed in a traditional style and used exclusively for homestays. While some homestays here are quite nice, manage your expectations—this is not a historically authentic village, but rather a tourist-oriented community. Some homestays occasionally host karaoke nights, which can make the area noisy in the evening (though they usually stop by 10 PM). Despite this, Pa Vi Village can still be a good option for those who want a scenic, peaceful stay outside the main town.
How to get to Meo Vac
Meo Vac Market is one of the most unique markets in Vietnam, but it’s rarely visited as a standalone destination. Instead, travelers usually combine it with other highlights in Ha Giang as part of the Ha Giang Loop. This famous loop starts and ends in Ha Giang City and takes travelers through breathtaking mountain passes, scenic viewpoints, ethnic villages, local markets, and Meo Vac over the course of 3 to 5 days.
Getting to Ha Giang City
Before reaching Meo Vac, you first need to travel to Ha Giang City, the gateway to the Ha Giang Loop. From Hanoi, you have several options:
- Sleeper Bus: The most convenient option, departing at night and arriving in Ha Giang early in the morning (6–7 hours).
- Limousine Van: A more comfortable daytime option, taking around 6–7 hours.
- Private Car: The most flexible and comfortable way to travel, but also the most expensive.
Embarking on the Ha Giang Loop
Once in Ha Giang City, you can start your journey through the Ha Giang Loop, which includes Meo Vac as one of its key stops. You can do this in three ways:
- Motorbike (Self-Drive) – The most adventurous and immersive way to explore, but only recommended if you have prior experience riding a motorbike in mountainous areas.
- Easy Rider (Motorbike with Driver) – A safer and more comfortable option where you ride on the back of a local guide’s motorbike and can fully enjoy the scenery.
- Car or Jeep Tour – The most comfortable and safest option, ideal for those who don’t ride motorbikes. A jeep tour can be an incredible way to experience the landscape with open-air views, though it’s more expensive and less enjoyable in bad weather.
Travel tip: Other sights to visit on the way to Meo Vac
While the Sunday Market is a fantastic experience, it’s best combined with other incredible sights in Ha Giang. Close to Meo Vac, you’ll find Vietnam’s most epic mountain pass, the Ma Pi Leng Pass, which is part of QL4C, the road connecting Meo Vac and Dong Van. You can also visit Dong Van Old Quarter, an area rich in history and local culture. Further north, you’ll find the Lung Cu Flag Tower, the northernmost point of Vietnam. On the route between Dong Van and Ha Giang City, you can explore the Hmong King Palace, the breathtaking Sung La Valley, and the scenic Tham Ma Pass.
