Located between Bac Ha and Lao Cai, about 55 kilometers from Sapa, Coc Ly Market is held every Tuesday. Each time the early morning mist still lingers on the mountain slopes, the Flower Hmong, Tay, and Nung people carry their goods down the trails to the market.

This market is not as noisy or colorful as Bac Ha; instead, it carries the slow and gentle rhythm of a riverside countryside.

Location & How to Get There

Coc Ly belongs to Bac Ha District, Lao Cai Province – about 2 to 2.5 hours by car from the center of Sapa.

The road winds through terraced rice fields and villages; the scenery along the way is pleasant, with few tourist vehicles. From Bac Ha, it takes about 45 minutes to reach.

The market is held once a week, most bustling between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. When the market ends, many local people usually take a boat along the Chay River, carrying goods while admiring the mountains.

A Morning at the Market

Coc Ly is small but cozy. The market lies right by the river, in the middle of a green valley, where sounds blend together — people calling to each other, the flow of the water, and the clatter of wooden clogs on the ground.

The Flower Hmong spread out their handwoven brocade fabrics, displaying honey, corn, and wild plums. The area for selling buffaloes, cows, and horses is lively with bargaining voices mixed with laughter. In another corner, the smell of thang co rises thick in the air; a few men raise cups of warm corn wine, while children run around holding candy in their hands.

Coc Ly has no areas specially arranged for tourists. Everything happens as it always does — buyers bargaining, sellers talking and laughing, and children running around the stalls. Here, you don’t need to look for anything special; just stand still for a moment, and you can see the whole life of the highlands right before your eyes.

A Hmong girl selling a water buffalo at Coc Ly market Source: Instagram – Photo by @indagaretravel

The Heartbeat of the mountains

For the people living along the Chay River, a week without going to the market feels like missing a meeting. The market is a place to exchange agricultural products, livestock, and fabrics, but also a place that connects the community – where they hear news from each other, send wedding invitations, or simply ask about the corn and rice season.

Over the years, Coc Ly has remained a cultural meeting point for the Hmong, Tay, and Nung people. Although life has changed, the market is still a place where people come together and keep the familiar things of the highlands.

Travel Tips for Visitors

• If you want to fully experience the atmosphere of the market, you should leave early from Sapa or Lao Cai to arrive in Coc Ly around 7–8 a.m. That’s when the market truly comes alive – people carrying goods down the hills, voices calling out to each other through the morning mist, and the colorful Hmong skirts glowing under the first sunlight.
• After walking around the market, don’t rush to leave. Take some time to enjoy a boat ride on the Chay River – it lasts about an hour but is well worth it. The small boat glides past limestone cliffs, rice terraces, and wooden stilt houses hidden among bamboo groves – a peaceful scene rarely found elsewhere.
• Mornings near the border can be quite cold, so bring a light jacket. Vendors in the market usually don’t use electronic payments, so prepare small cash notes for convenience. And as in other highland markets, ask politely before taking photos – a small gesture that shows respect.
• The best time to visit the market is during the dry season, from October to April, when the sky is clear, the road is easy to travel, and the river turns a beautiful shade of blue.