Each year it only meets once, but the Khau Vai Love Market has never just been a market.

It is a place where old stories are recalled, where people return to a promise made among the mountains and forests, and it is also a place that preserves one of the most special cultural features of the rocky highlands.

This year, the festival takes place on May 12 - 13 with the theme “Khau Vai - The Love Market Forever Calling”. During these days, the whole Khau Vai is bustling in preparation for the new festival season. From the small roads leading into the village, the area of Mr. and Mrs. Temple, to the cultural performances, folk games… everything carries a very unique atmosphere of the northern mountainous region during the festival.

What I like about Khau Vai is that even though more and more tourists are coming, this place still retains a very “real” feeling. People come here not only to see the festival but also to hear the love story between Ba and Ut - a story that has made the Khau Vai Love Market a symbol of loyalty and tolerance in love.

Apart from the rituals, I think the most interesting part is still the cultural atmosphere of the market. The vibrant traditional costumes, the sound of the flute, the singing of love duets, the folk games, and the aroma of thắng cố, corn wine… all create a feeling that is very hard to describe.

There are places that are beautiful because of the scenery. But Khau Vai is beautiful because of the stories and emotions that it has preserved over many years.

And perhaps that is why, that market always remains “forever calling”.

Source of the image: Compilation