1. Khau Vai Love Market - Ha Giang
Khau Vai love market is usually held once a year on the 27th day of the 3rd lunar month every year, in Khau Vai commune, Meo Vac district, Ha Giang province. This is one of the most famous love markets in Vietnam. This market originates from a tragic love story of a couple who loved each other but could not be together. They made an appointment to meet only once a year, on the 27th of March, to reminisce about their past love, from which Khau Vai love market was born.
Khau Vai love market only meets once a year, but Khau Vai market meets every five days to serve the needs of the ethnic people here. The love market opens from dusk until the next morning. From the evening of March 26, people have been chattering and inviting each other to the market. They come here not to buy or sell, but to find their ex-lovers, to chat a bit before saying goodbye and returning to their own families.
2. Chau Moc love market, Moc Chau - Son La
Chau Moc love market is held on September 1st every year, which is also the independence day of the Mong people. Chau Moc love market is held only once a year, this is the gathering occasion of Mong people from all over the country from Viet Bac, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and also Mong people from Laos come to celebrate Tet with Mong people in Moc Chau.
During the Tinh market season, the colorful brocade colors will dye all the streets with Mong girls in flared skirts. Their costumes are divided into many lines such as Mong Du (black), Mong Si (red), Mong Lenh (flower), Mong Sua (Mong Man)... The colorful dresses blend together like a forest of flowers.
People come here not to buy and sell, but to date, to express their feelings, to show their love. After the love market, many couples will become husband and wife, but there are also those who are still single and will come back to buy at the market later.
3. Sapa Love Market
Unlike the two love markets above, which only meet once a year, Sa Pa love market meets every Sunday. This is a traditional cultural feature of the Mong and Dao ethnic groups in the highlands of Lao Cai in particular and the Northwest region of our country in general since ancient times.
The ethnic villages are quite far from Sapa town, people usually have to depart on Saturday to attend the Sunday market, so Saturday night is the most joyful and bustling time.
4. Hang Po Love Market – Lang Son
Hang Po love market, located in Thien Thuat, Binh Gia district, Lang Son province, meets once a year on April 2nd. Hang Po love market attracts young men and women of Dao, Tay, and Nung ethnic groups (Lang Son, Cao Bang, and Bac Giang) from neighboring regions to come to sing love songs and find a partner with the hope of choosing a wife or husband.
This market does not focus too much on trading and profit. People only come here to join in Sli singing and try to find a soul mate to take home.
5. Western Nghe An love market
The Western love market of Nghe An is held in Huoi Tu commune, Ky Son district, Nghe An province. The market is divided into 2 sessions, held at 2 different locations. The first session of the month is held in Huoi Dun, the last session of the month is held in Muong Long village.
Participating in this love market are the Mong and Thai people. They come to exchange goods as a secondary purpose, but mainly to choose a partner and find someone to date. The market is crowded only in the morning, and gradually disperses in the afternoon. Those who have found a partner come home and sing together, while those who have not found a partner go home alone, anxiously waiting for the next market.
