PANO - Dong Van kirmess in the northernmost province of Ha Giang often falls on Sundays. Therefore, many people can go to the market, creating a bustling atmosphere in the small town of Dong Van on a dewy Sunday morning, very strange from quietness daily present in the centre of Dong Van Karst Plateau.  

On the day, locals in colorful traditional costumes of the H’Mong, Tay, Dao, Nung ethnic minority groups, walk from all directions to the kirmess to not only exchange goods, but also meet and exchange their feelings with their friends and acquaintances, which makes the Dong Van kirmess different from others in the lowland and serves as the locals’ unique cultural activity.

The following photos captured by PANO’s reporter Ha Thu in part give readers an insight into the unique kirmess.

These families having to walk several kilometers of a mountain pass road to reach the special market.
Most items for sale at the kirmess are colorful handmade brocade products
Dealers chattering with each other
A dealer friendly assisting a customer in trying on a shirt
Kids having a chance to taste ice-creams, an item on the moutainous area
A young H’Mong couple going hand-in-hand enjoying  the kirmess
Dong Van’s specialities attracting tourists


Translated by Ngoc Bich