Upland Meo Vac cattle market

The Meo Vac cattle market, held every Sunday in Ha Giang province, is unique in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam.

Mong ethnic men walk their cows to market to sell.

Meo Vac cow market is bustling with sellers and buyers.

The market is not only where the locals living in the karst plateau trade cattle, it is also a gathering place for the Mong ethnic minority.

Visitors to the region are always encouraged to go to the Meo Vac cattle market to experience this unique local ethnic cultural event.

Market goers must start early in the morning. Those selling cattle have to wake up the earliest, usually around midnight, to walk their cows to market. Many walk dozens of miles, climb mountains and cross streams to get there, yet they never appear to be tired and are always smiling and cheerful.

In addition to cattle, there are also dogs, goats and pigs for sale at the market. Despite being tied up, a few chubby pigs are still able to run around while the goats lie near their owner’s feet and dogs wag their tails to greet passers-by.

The first sellers start to arrive around 5 am. The echoes of the clop, clop, clop of cattle hooves can be heard throughout the forests and mountains as they make their way to the market. Visitors can see the traditional costumes of the local Mong people at the market; the men wear long black dresses while the women dress in their best, most colourful costumes and their children run alongside them. There are food shops selling traditional Thang co (stewed meat soup) and fragrant maize wine near the area reserved for selling cattle. Most Mong men insist on sampling the wine before leaving at the end of the day.


Many people do not actually sell their cows, dogs or pigs at the market; they just bring them there for show. However, there is a lot of livestock for sale, sometimes whole herds of up to a thousand cattle. The cows stand patiently side by side, waiting to be sold to people from lowland areas, sometimes as far away as Vinh Phuc, Ninh Binh or Nam Dinh provinces.

The Mong people are well-known for taking very good care of their cattle. The winters on the karst plateau are very cold and there is often hoarfrost, but they still manage to raise many strong, healthy cows. The average cow sells for about VND5-8 million, while the larger ones may fetch as much as VND20 million. For an ethnic family, a cow is truly a great asset. After selling a cow, the owner can often be seen checking his cash carefully and counting it with pride, yet he is always ready to spend some of his hard earned money on a bowl of Thang co soup and a few cups of maize wine as a reward for raising such a good animal.

After one year of tending their cows, the Mong people earn an income worth their effort
after selling the cows

Fat cows for sale

he market is also a place for Mong men to get together and enjoy maize wine

Vietnam Pictorial

Amazing rocky walls in Cham Islet

When touring Cham Islet, or Cu Lao Cham in the ancient city of Hoi An in Quang Nam Province you are bewitched by splendid landscapes with wonderful sandy beaches, forested hills and the glorious clear, blue sea.

The location is a popular spot for tourists to go camping, swimming and scuba-diving to explore coral reefs and beautiful marine life.

A view of Cham islet in Hoi An ancient town, Quang Nam Province

However, with a small boat you can take a cruise around the islet and travelers will discover it is enhanced due to its rocky mountain walls.

Cham Islet, 20 kilometres offshore of Hoi An, has been named a global biosphere reserve by UNESCO’s International Coordination Council of Man and the Biosphere Program.

It takes about twenty minutes by boat or canoe but it is worth the short wait as you drift amidst the sky and sea and then as if by magic the islets appear in all their glory.

Cham Islands consists of eight islets with a total surface area of 40,000 hectares. Lao, Dai, Mo, Kho Me, Kho Con, La, Tai and Ong islets are home to only about 3,000 residents leaving the landscapes largely in pristine condition. The islet has 1,549 hectares of tropical forest and nearly 1,000 species of marine life.

The islets are cool and fresh all-year round, so tourists can come there anytime. The immense green of the forests harmonize with the blue of the sea to create an endless green airspace. White sand beaches and peaceful fishing villages make the islet more poetic and fanciful.

Cham Islet’s Huong and Ong beaches are popular options for tourists because of the smooth sand and the small waves. Cham Islet is also home to diverse flora and fauna, especially abalone and sanglaganes, birds which have long been considered a delicacy by aristocrats and the wealthy. The islet also boasts 135 species of coral which are exciting discoveries for tourists.

However, the islet is especially impressive with vertical mountain walls covered by rocks in varied and weird shapes. Small and large waves crash on them and toss white sponges and create interesting sounds. Rocky mounts change their shapes as you travel on your cruising boat. Sometimes the water is clear, sometimes vaporous as it lets travelers indulge into the vastness of this beautiful location.

| SGT |

Grand meeting marks Buddhist Sangha’s anniversary

A grand meeting was held in Hanoi on Nov. 7 to celebrate the 30 th founding anniversary of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS). 

A message of the VBS leader presented by Most Venerable Thich Chon Thien, Vice Chairman of the VBS Executive Council, said the foundation of the VBS on Nov. 7, 1981 was an important event for the Vietnamese Buddhism.

The VBS is a sole organisation that has a mission to maintain the 2,000 year history of the Vietnamese Buddhism. It is an active member in the great national unity bloc, defending the country and reassuring the people, it said.

The message called upon the Sangha at all levels, Buddhist dignitaries and followers in and outside the country to make efforts to fulfil all Buddhist tasks and overcome shortcomings to further develop the VBS.

In his opening speech, Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the VBS Executive Council said that Buddhism has made great contributions to the national culture, especially in literature, philosophy, education, aesthetics, architecture and arts.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan stressed that Buddhism helps monks, nuns and followers in and outside the country understand more about the guidelines and policies of the Party and State in the cause of national construction and defence.

With the spirit of mercy, freedom and peace loving, the VBS is taking the lead in promoting the great national unity and religious solidarity and building a new life for a strong nation with rich people and a democratic, fair and civilised society.

At the meeting, Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan conferred the Ho Chi Minh Order on the VBS in recognition of its great contributions to the nation’s revolutionary cause.

Deputy PM Nhan presented the Independence Order, first class, second class and third class, to Buddhist monks and nuns who have made outstanding contributions to national construction and defence.

On the occasion, the State President decided to present the Great National Unity Order to Buddhists with excellent achievements in building great national unity. The Prime Minister also offered certificates of merit to the VBS’s affiliates.

According to Venerable Thich Gia Quang, VBS Executive Council Deputy General Secretary, the VBS now has over 14,700 pagodas and worship places with nearly 46,500 Buddhist monks and nuns; four Buddhist institutes and 30 Buddhist schools./.

(Source: VNA)