The San Thang fair market, located in Ban Moi village, Tan Phong ward, on National Highway 4D, is approximately 5 km from Lai Chau city center. It convenes every thursday and sunday morning. From early hours, residents from surrounding villages bring agricultural products, livestock, and handicrafts to the market.

Established during the French colonial period, the San Thang fair market was originally known as "Tam Duong Land market". It served as a meeting point for ethnic groups to exchange agricultural goods and other products. Over time, the market has consistently operated, evolving into a vibrant commercial hub and a community cultural space, preserving distinct characteristics of Lai Chau's highland residents.

The market is vibrant with the traditional attire of Hmong, Dao, Giay, Thai, and Lu ethnic groups. Beyond trading, people also visit the market to socialize after days of working in the fields.

Ethnic women attending the market often wear colorful traditional costumes adorned with intricate patterns. According to local residents, many of these outfits are handmade, taking several months to a year to complete.

A row of food and drink stalls, including approximately 4-5 eateries selling handmade pho noodles, sees a steady stream of customers. The pho noodles are handmade, and the broth is simmered from bones, attracting diners from early morning until around 9-10h, when the market begins to thin out.

San Thang market offers various traditional cakes made by locals, such as banh ran, banh bo, banh quay, banh cat, banh bac dau, and banh day. The banh bo (pictured) of the Giay people uses only rice flour and red sugar, turning a honey-yellow color when steamed, with a light, fluffy texture and subtle sweetness.

Various medicinal plants and roots cultivated by locals in the forest are brought to the market for sale. Some stalls offer ginseng, ngoc cau, dinh lang, and other herbs. These natural products are used by local residents in their daily lives.

In one corner of the market, many small traders and online sellers continuously livestream sales of ginseng plants, ginseng roots, and Lai Chau tam that. A fresh ginseng plant with leaves and seeds sells for about 2 million dong.

Ms. Tien Thi Ruong, 65, a Hmong woman, brings bamboo shoots harvested the day before to sell at the market. For each session, she walks over 3 km from her home to San Thang, a long-standing habit.

Domestic poultry and livestock are brought to the market from early morning.

The market is typically busiest on sunday mornings, when people from surrounding communes and villages flock to buy, sell, and socialize. Some travel tens, even hundreds, of kilometers to reach San Thang, giving the fair market a festive highland atmosphere.

Ngoc Thanh - Gia Chinh - Hoang Giang