The Unique Charm of Khau Vai Love Market in Ha Giang

08:08 - 26/10/2024

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Love markets are a renowned aspect of the culture of the ethnic groups in Northwest Vietnam. Each ethnic community celebrates its love market with distinct characteristics, and when one thinks of Ha Giang’s love markets, Khau Vai Love Market comes immediately to mind. What makes this market special? All will be MOTOGO Tours revealed right here.

Where is Khau Vai Love Market Held?

Rich in cultural diversity, Ha Giang is a hilly province in Northwest Vietnam. Every town has a strong culture that is eloquently shown in its daily activities and rituals. Found in Khau Vai Village, Khau Vai Commune, Meo Vac District, Ha Giang Province, Khau Vai Love Market is among the most well-known local markets in Ha Giang.

Meo Vac is a lonely mountainous area distinguished mostly by limestone topography. This region also boasts a breathtakingly beautiful backdrop from the magical Nho Que River. Thus, a trip to Meo Vac presents not only the possibility to visit the love market but also to discover its several interesting tourist sites.

Location and Accessibility

Getting to Khau Vai

Reaching Khau Vai from the town of Meo Vac, roughly 20 kilometers away, can be a wonderful trip throughout the scenic northern Vietnam landscapes. The trip is worth it because of the amazing sights the meandering roads offer—they lead you across verdant valleys and tall mountains. Whether you’re driving or taking a bus, prepare for an adventure! Or join Ha Giang Motorbike Tours to enhace your experience.

Best Time to Visit

Though the market only happens once a year, timing your visit is rather important. The greatest time to visit Khau Vai Love Market is in the spring, particularly around April when the local vegetation is in full flower and the temperature is nice. This improves the whole experience as well as lets guests view the market at its busiest.

When Does the Love Market Take Place?

In the highland areas, celebrations of festivals usually fall during the spring, a season when farming operations are less taxing. Many times, these festivities include customs to pray for abundant crops all year long and good weather. Khau Vai Love Market carries on this custom.

Every year, the 27th day of the third lunar month hosts the love market. Originally just one day, the market has been extended to three days in recent years in an attempt to highlight local culture and beauty. Historical accounts state that Khau Vai Love Market first opened its doors more than a century ago, in 1919. Given such a long past, there is surely plenty to investigate and learn.

The Origin and Legend of Khau Vai Love Market

Many times, visitors call Khau Vai Love Market Phong Tinh Market. The narrative of this love market’s beginnings defines its special character.

The narrative goes that the market started with the sad love story of young man Ba from the Nung ethnic group and girl Ut from the Giay ethnic group. They fell in great love, but their relationship was banned because of their different ethnic backgrounds, ancestral rituals, and conflicting circumstances of their families—she was the daughter of a rich Giay chieftain while his family was destitute.

Seeking pleasure, they chose to live together after fleeing to Khau Vai Mountain. Still, life did not turn out as expected. While Ba’s family responded violently, Ut’s relatives arrived armed to challenge Ba for being taken from her house. This led to a bloody conflict between the two clans. Seeing the anarchy from their mountain hideout, they came to see the pointlessness of their revolt against family expectations and decided to split ways and carry out their family responsibilities.

They promised to meet at Khau Vai Mountain on March 27, annually to sing to each other and exchange life tales of their past year before bidding farewell. Together, they would spend the night returning to their different lives at dawn. They are supposed to come back to this area, embrace closely, and enter into eternal together when they die.

Empathetic for their unmet love, the people built shrines in respect of the man and the woman. The core of this renowned love market in Ha Giang is the gathering of all lovelorn couples scheduled for the 27th of March.

The Distinctive Features of Khau Vai Love Market

At first glance, one might assume that Khau Vai Love Market is similar to other love markets in Northwest Vietnam, serving as a meeting place for unmarried young men and women to find potential partners. In reality, Khau Vai Love Market is entirely different. This market is a gathering place for those who have experienced lost love. Visitors come to share their life stories over the past year, reliving the emotions of bygone times.

Interestingly, married couples visiting the market are not plagued by jealousy. They respect each other’s pasts, considering it a necessary part of their emotional lives. Thus, it is not uncommon for couples to attend the market together, with wives and husbands wandering separately—a testament to the market’s simplicity and authenticity in the Khau Vai area of Meo Vac.

Activities at the Khau Vai Love Market

Unlike a conventional market, Khau Vai Love Market does not entail the trade of products. Rather, it provides a forum where people may interact and tell their tales. Those who have lost love come to remember after years apart for whatever cause.

The market has changed over time to become more of a commercial affair with booths seeming to appeal to guests. Still, the core of the market is unchangeable. Celebrating the pure love couples experience is the main objective of the love market. This emphasis draws a lot of visitors, particularly adventure seekers looking at Ha Giang.

Khau Vai Love Market consists of two main components: the ceremonial part and the festival part.

Activities in the Ceremonial Portion of the Love Market

Locals will pay honors to the man and the woman’s contributions to the foundation of Khau Vai at the shrines during the ceremonial section. This is also a time to honor pair love. Lead by the village elder, the ceremonial opens the market formally with incense offerings.

Activities in the Khau Vai Love Market Festival

Engaging leisure activities including musical events, traditional games, and sporting contests like nightingale boxing abound in the Khau Vai Love Market festival section. Local artists also present their homemade goods and Ha Giang’s delicacies. Visitors can check these booths and buy mementos to carry with them.

By now, you ought to know more about Khau Vai Love Market and its outstanding presence in Ha Giang. Apart from the Khau Vai Market, the area has several other local markets just waiting for discovery. Still, make sure not to miss the vibrant but reflective environment of the love market here when you are visiting this northernmost point of the nation.

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