‘Love Market’ to reignite Sa Pa tourism

 Sa Pa, a popular tourist town in northern Lao Cai Province, is organizing a series of cultural events, including its unique ‘Love Market’ to reboot post-pandemic tourism.

Ethnic minority representatives from Lao Cai demonstrate brocade weaving techniques as part of a series of tourism and cultural festivals taking place from Nov. 19-22 to boost local tourism, hard-hit by the pandemic.

Tourists pose for a group photo in front of Sa Pa Stone Church in the heart of town.

Covering 6,000 square meters, the cross-shaped church was built in 1895 by French missionaries. The stones of the church are cemented with a mixture of sand, lime and molasses. Its colored glass windows depict the life of Jesus.

Provincial authorities expect to welcome 5,000 to 10,000 domestic visitors to Sa Pa during the event.

One of the highlights is the colorful ‘Love Market’, a distinctive cultural trait of the Hmong and Dao ethnic minorities, where young men and women dress in vividly colorful traditional clothing and exchange messages of love and endearment via dances, panpipe playing, songs, and traditional games.

Brocade in Sa Pa is traditionally made of cotton and flax yarn materials found in the forest. Its patterns are typically dyed with natural colors. Brocade patterns often follow specific ethnic traditions.

Brocade weaving is preserved and inherited through the skillful hands of local craftswomen.

Tourists can try thang co, a Hmong speciality made of horse meat. This dish means "a big pot of water" in Hmong.

A booth displays corn wine, a unique specialty of the northern mountains, and available for purchase.

Visitors to Lao Cai are required to submit medical declarations at various checkpoints and Covid test result should they plan to attend a festive event.

Functional forces constantly remind local residents and tourists to comply with pandemic prevention measures and limit gathering in crowds.

Five-star Hotel de la Coupole – Mgallery in downtown Sa Pa is shrouded in thick clouds.

Sa Pa is a top travel destination in Vietnam with major attractions like Mount Fansipan, nicknamed the "Roof of Indochina", rice terraces, and Muong Hoa Valley.