The open market in the village of Sa Phin, located in the Ha Giang province of Vietnam, is not the largest in the country, nor does it boast what you might find at a market in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. What it lacks in size and products, it more than makes up for with hundreds of villagers whose kind and gentle eyes peek through rows of colorful fabrics and weaved baskets.
Sa Phin is located about a mile from the Chinese border, making it a truly unique destination during a tour of Vietnam. With influences from both China and Vietnam, the village's culture is unlike any other in the country.
On market day, nearly every resident makes their way to shop for the week's supplies, whether it's fresh fish, beef or vegetables. Parents typically let their children roam free to find their friends while they shop, and whenever visitors are in town, the little one's curiosity brings about even more smiles and ponderous stares, giving you the opportunity to snap a photograph worthy of a travel magazine.
