Unlike other love markets, the Khau Vai market is a meeting place of ex-lovers. It origins from a legend about a mournful love story of a couple of ethnic minorities. As told by the legend for immemorial times, there was a boy and a girl of two different tribes who fell in love with each other. The girl was so beautiful that her tribe did not want her to get married with any man from another tribe, on the contrary, his tribe wanted her to become the bride of his tribe.
This resulted in the conflict between the two tribes which aggravated as the youth loved each other more and more. A violent conflict caused bloodshed for both of them. To stop the fierce battle, the couple decided to say goodbye with broken hearts. However, they made the promise to meet once every year the same day at the same place (27 March of the lunar year). Since then, Khau Vai became the common place of all the lovers in the area.
When the festival takes place, the locals from various hill tribes like Nung, Tay, San Chi, Lo Lo, Dzao, and Giay will put on their best traditional costumes and go to the market. Here, they are free to meet their past partners to share the emotions. Husbands and wives arrive at the market together before they both look for their ex-lovers among the crowd. This meeting at the market is just a temporary moment and does not influence their daily lives and their relationship.
The Khau Vai love market has now become a tourist attraction for both domestic and foreign visitors. Coming to the festival, you will have a great chance to enjoy some traditional games and exciting activities, explore Meo Vac night market and try some local specialties. Besides, ethnic costumes, jewelry, and ethnic musical instruments are on display at the market, you can buy some as souvenirs.
Located at Khau Vai commune, Meo Vac District, the market is about 170km from Ha Giang town. So you can reach there by car which will take you around 4-5 hours. Let come and explore the unique local ethnic cultural market.
