Bac Ha
A Sunday market, a historic palace and cool highland air draw travelers to this commune in Vietnam's northwest.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Bac Ha is a commune in Lào Cai Province, in the mountainous northwest of Vietnam, known for its cool highland climate. Visitors come for its cultural market, which is considered one of the most beautiful in the Northwest region, and for the annual horse race held at the town's central stadium. The market runs on Sundays.
The Bac Ha River flows from north to south through the commune, and Provincial Road 153 passes through it. Dinh Hoàng A Tưởng, also called the Mèo King's Palace, sits on a low hill and was built between 1914 and 1921. It combines Western architecture with Eastern feng shui and was designed by a French and a Chinese architect. Bac Ha Temple is another nationally recognized historical relic in the commune. Plan a market day and a separate visit to the palace, and bring warm layers, since the highland air stays cooler than the lowlands.
Bac Ha in five
- Plan around Sunday, because the market meets once a weekBac Ha market is held on Sundays only, with traders from about 14 ethnic groups arriving from communes around the district. A visit on any other day shows you a quiet town.
- Stay Saturday night in townSome traders walk in the afternoon before, and the market stirs at first light. Sleeping in Bac Ha puts you in the stalls before the day groups from Sapa and Lao Cai arrive.
- Walk the sections in orderBrocade and jewelry, food stalls, plants and orchids, and livestock sit in separate areas. Start with textiles and food, and expect the animal sections to be loud and muddy.
- Ask before taking photographsMany sellers are happy to be photographed, but some are not, and children should not be photographed without a parent's agreement. Buy a small item, smile and ask first.
- Pair it with Sapa or Lao CaiThe national tourism board lists the Bac Ha market as a Sunday stop from Sapa. Overnight trains from Hanoi arrive at Lao Cai, and vans or buses cover the road from there.Sapa travel guide
Need to know
- Airport
- None nearby; Hanoi (HAN) is the main gateway
- Getting there
- Road from Lao Cai or Sapa; night train from Hanoi to Lao Cai
- Getting around
- On foot in town; hired car or motorbike for villages
- Best base
- Bac Ha town, the night before the market
- Time needed
- 1 night, arriving Saturday
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Poor
- JanuaryRain16 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Cold, mistyJanuaryRain
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, misty
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Cool, TetFebruaryRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, Tet
- MarchRain15 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°MildMarchRain
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- AprilRain15 rainy daysHigh30°Low20°Mild, clearAprilRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 124 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- MayRain21 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°WarmMayRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 244 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- JuneRain23 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low24°Warm, showersJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 340 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, showers
- JulyRain24 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low24°RainyJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 335 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rainy
- AugustRain26 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°RainyAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 434 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- SeptemberRain22 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°ClearingSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 292 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clearing
- OctoberRain16 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Clear, coolOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 181 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, cool
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh24°Low16°Cool, dryNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°ColdDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
Average daily high and low in Bac Ha, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Bac Ha
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
18
- Feels like
- 19°
- Humidity
- 98%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Bac Ha
08:34 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today20°17°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 20°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed22°18°94%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Thu23°19°99%Thursday: Drizzle. High 23°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 99%.
- Fri21°17°100%Friday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sat21°17°100%Saturday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun22°15°87%Sunday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 87%.
- Mon18°13°79%Monday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 79%.
Updated 07:40 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 25,787 VND
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Sapa and Fansipana separate base; arrange the road transferThe nearby hill station with a cable car to the Fansipan summit.Read the guide
- Lao Cai citya gateway stop for the night trainThe rail arrival point for the north, with vans onward to Sapa and Bac Ha.
- Hanoiovernight train or a full day by roadWhere most northern trips begin and end.Read the guide
Before you go to Bac Ha
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Bac Ha, checked
- Entry rules depend on your passport. Check whether you need a visa or e-visa with the Vietnam Immigration Department before you book.Source
- Dial 113 for police, 114 for fire and 115 for an ambulance anywhere in Vietnam.
- Remove your shoes before entering temple halls, including Bac Ha Temple, a nationally recognized historical relic.
- Ask before photographing people at the Bac Ha market, especially those in traditional dress.
Plan around Bac Ha
The usual starting point for the north
Read the guideSapaTerraces, treks and the Fansipan cable car
Read the guideHa Giang LoopDays, months and who should ride
Read the guideNorthwest VietnamSapa, Mu Cang Chai, Mai Chau and Pu Luong
Read the guideBest time to visit VietnamWeather by region and month
Read the guideGetting around VietnamNight trains, buses and flights
Read the guideAll of VietnamEntry, seasons, regions and money
Read the guideBac Ha FAQ
When is Bac Ha market open?
Every Sunday. It is a weekly market, so a weekday visit means a quiet town. Get there early, since the busiest hours are in the morning and traders thin out by early afternoon.
Is Bac Ha market worth visiting?
Yes, if you enjoy a working market and can be there on a Sunday. It is a place where communities trade livestock, textiles and produce, not a souvenir show. Skip it if you dislike crowds or animal sections.
How do you get to Bac Ha from Sapa?
By road, either on a day tour, in a hired car or in a shared van that runs on market day. Book a return seat when you go, and ask your hotel for the current schedule.
Should you stay overnight in Bac Ha?
Yes, if you want to see the market from the first hour. A Saturday night in town beats a long Sunday transfer from Sapa. Rooms are limited, so book early for the weekend.
What is the best time to visit Bac Ha?
April, May, September and October are clear and mild, and many travelers combine it with the Sapa terraces. Winter is cold, and summer rain can turn the market muddy.