Explore Can Cau market – Lao Cai’s famous border horse market, held every Saturday morning. Where the H’Mong, Phu La, and Tay people gather amidst the majestic mountain scenery to exchange goods, chat, and preserve the rustic, pristine highland market culture.

Nestled among the rolling mountains of Si Ma Cai district, about 20 km from Bac Ha town, Can Cau market is one of the most unique highland markets in Lao Cai. Every Saturday morning, the Hoa Hmong, Phu La and Tay people from all over the surrounding villages gather here. Not as noisy as Bac Ha, Can Cau offers a more intimate and primitive feeling – where people come to buy, sell, meet and discuss crops in a majestic mountain setting.

A morning at Can Cau Market Source: Instagram – Photo by @shades_of_my_travels 

Location & How to Get There

Can Cau Market is located on the route from Bac Ha to Si Ma Cai, about 20 km north, near the Chinese border. From Bac Ha, you can take a motorbike or small car for about 45 minutes – 1 hour, the road is winding but the scenery is very beautiful, passing through terraced valleys and H'Mong villages.

The market is only open one day a week – on Saturday, and is most bustling from 7am to 9am, when streams of people lead their buffaloes, horses, or baskets of corn down to the valley where the main market sits.

Life at the Market

Compared to Bac Ha, Can Cau is smaller but very “real”. The main market is located in the middle of the valley, surrounded by rocky mountains and terraced fields, creating a very typical border scene.

Right at the entrance is the horse and livestock selling area – the most famous in the market. The neighing of horses and the calls to each other to bargain echo across the mountainside. The healthy, well-groomed horses are brought out for careful examination before the buyers and sellers shake hands to agree on a price.

Inside the market is the agricultural and brocade area, where the Hoa Hmong women sell corn, vegetables, honey, and colorful hand-woven fabrics.

Next to it is a row of small eateries, with typical thang co dishes, warm corn wine, and lively chatter. There are not many tourists, most of them are locals who really go to the market – shopping, eating breakfast, chatting.

Walking through Can Cau market, you can clearly feel the rhythm of highland life: rustic, natural, unstructured.

Where Colors and People Meet

For the people of Si Ma Cai, Can Cau market is not only a place to exchange goods but also a rare opportunity to meet and connect between remote villages.

For a long time, this has been a trading center between ethnic groups – especially the Hoa Hmong, Tay and Phu La – where they exchange buffaloes, horses, agricultural products, fabrics and even news of the region.

Can Cau is also a “meeting place” for friendship and love in the highlands – many Hmong couples have found love at markets like this.

Travel Tips

Go early (around 7–8 a.m.) to see the horse trading area at its busiest and capture the best morning light. The road is winding, so small cars or steady motorbike riders are best.

Bring a light jacket, as mornings near the border can be quite chilly, especially in winter.

Always ask before taking photos, and avoid haggling too much — it shows respect for local people.

After visiting the market, you can continue to Si Ma Cai town or return to Bac Ha for lunch; the route is scenic and convenient either way.

Leaving Can Cau, you’ll remember not just the horses or the mountains, but the warmth of a Saturday morning in the highlands.