Overview

700km northeast of Lao Cai Province, Bac Ha District attracts travelers for its beautiful natural landscape and historical landmarks. The name Bac Ha deprives of the phrase ‘Pac Ha’ (which means hundred alang bunches) in Tay ethnic language. Under the French colony, this area was called Pakha. Vietnamese people pronounced it ‘Bac Ha’ and then Bac Ha became the official name of this rural district.

Along with majestic mountains, rivers and caves endowed by the Mother Nature, colorful ethnic cultures and friendly local people make Bac Ha an ideal destination for trekkers and culture lovers on a trip to Vietnam. This district is well-known for its Sunday morning ethnic market where you can see Northwestern mountainous tribes in colorful costumes trading local products and souvenirs such as jewelry, scarves, and wood carvings.

Besides Bac Ha Market, Fairy Cave, Hoang A Tuong Palace, Ban Pho Village and Bac Ha Temple are worth checking out. If you are adventurous, rent a motorbike and explore this tranquil area. The roads are winding and long and you will be rewarded with magnificent sceneries of imposing alleys dotted with small ethnic houses and emerald rice fields.

Bac Ha is referred to as a ‘White Alley’ (Cao nguyen trang) since between 1985 and 1996, poppy plants and marijuana were grown in some mountainous area such as Lang Son, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Lai Chau, and Nghe An. As the Vietnamese government prohibited growing these addictive substances, the ‘White Alley’ turns into a peaceful land of plum blossom over the hills every spring, which creates romantic scenery for this destination.

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