Bac Ha (elevation 900m), 144 km from Sa Pa, is a new paradise for tourists and dreamed destination for photographers where you can see 10 minority groups at Sunday Market, a weekly hill tribe event that draws locals in from all over the surrounding area.
Unlike Sa Pa, it is not staged for tourists and far fewer tourists make it up this way... It is warmer than Sa Pa and much less tourism industry than Sa Pa. The bad thing is the infrastructure in Bac Ha is not as good as in Sa Pa (hotel and power are in worse condition). Minority men are heavy drinkers and it is amazing to see groups of tribal women heading home, each one leading a horse behind her with her drunken husband on the saddle. Anyway, the people and landscape are far more interesting than Sa Pa. It may be nicer in the middle of the week but you can not go to any market and if you want to see minority groups, you sometimes have to walk for 20 km.
These minority people live highest in the mountains, and are renowned for their musicality, songs and word-play. The women wear tunic-style dresses of hemp fabric, dyeing with natural indigo to a deep purple-black. They wear strips of indigo cloth as leggings, and stunning silver bangles around their necks and arms.
This photo shows a group of teenagers walking on "downtown" street, after their purchases of new pairs of shoes. Of course the high-heel shoes are not for their uphill alleys, but once they decided to have them, they are going to return next Sundays...
I cannot garranty that I always be a good photographer, but I could tell you that I am a good listerner, especially to the best advice like the one you gave to me.
This is what I call a perfect title for a perfect shot... I like the variety of expressions on the faces. The colors and lighting are surely a plus... very good my friend