The Tong Cot Love Market Festival – A Unique Cultural Tradition Of Seeking Love Among The Nung People In Cao Bang.

Unlike regular markets, the love market in Tổng Cọt has a very unique meaning – it is a place where couples come to meet, chat, express their feelings, and even where couples who have missed their chance can return to share and find their old emotions. The festival is held on the 27th day of the 3rd lunar month every year in Tổng Cọt commune, Hà Quảng district, Cao Bằng province.

Where is the love market in Tổng Cọt?

Tổng Cọt is a highland commune in Hà Quảng, where most of the residents are from the Nùng ethnic group. Therefore, the love market here carries the cultural identity of the Nùng people, from clothing, cuisine to folk games and traditional folk songs.

In recent years, the festival has attracted not only local residents and those from neighboring areas but also many tourists from far and wide to visit, experience, and explore the cultural beauty of the highlands.

The special significance of the love market

Since ancient times, the love market in Tổng Cọt has been seen as a place to celebrate pure and faithful love. It is not merely a place for trading goods but also a very important cultural and spiritual space for the community.

People come to the market not only to buy and sell but also to meet old friends, to "find love," and to reconnect with unfinished stories of youth. This has created a market that is both familiar and full of poetry in the northeastern border region.

The festive atmosphere is vibrant with colors

On the day of the festival, the market area becomes extremely lively. People in bright traditional costumes from all the villages gather here, bringing along agricultural products, local specialties, and simple everyday stories.

Nùng women stand out in traditional indigo dresses, short buttoned blouses, high collars, and split skirts – a cultural beauty that has been preserved through many generations. The shades of indigo amidst the highland market create a very unique scene that is hard to find elsewhere.

Fried tofu – a delicious dish that leaves a lasting impression

One of the things that tourists remember most when visiting the love market in Tổng Cọt is the hot fried tofu.

The pieces of tofu are deep-fried in a bubbling pot of oil, stirred until golden brown on the outside, crispy but still soft and fluffy inside. The tofu, just taken out while still hot, served with sauce creates a rich, fragrant flavor that is very characteristic of the highlands of Cao Bằng. This is a rustic dish that almost everyone who comes to the market wants to try at least once.

Many unique cultural activities

In addition to the traditional market space, the festival also features many lively activities that attract a large number of residents and tourists to participate, such as:

Lion dance performance
Local specialty booth display competition
Tug of war
Grass pulling competition
Folk singing
Volleyball
Leather ball volleyball
Men's football tournament

In particular, the folk game of grass pulling (also known as “sai mạ”) is a very interesting highlight. The way to play is quite similar to rock-paper-scissors but carries the distinct identity of the Tày and Nùng people, creating an extremely lively and exciting atmosphere.