The Fair in Nguyen Tien commune is held on Monday. A few weeks before the lunar New Year (Tet holiday), ethnic minority people flocked to the fair to purchase goods for Tet.

From early morning, they went to the market. Tien Nguyen commune is the home to a number of ethnic groups, including Dao Den, Dao Do, Hmong, Tay and Pa Then.

Local people also took their produce to the market to sell, mainly la dong (leaves used to make rice cakes), chicken, pigs and goats.

They bought confectionery, salt, fish sauce, pots, boots, clothes etc. from traders.

In addition to usual clothes, there are costumes of various ethnic groups at the fair.

Ethnic girls often make clothes for themselves. This girl, 16 (right) and her friend went to the market to buy a piece of red cloth to make a belt for her Tet clothes.

This woman walked for over two hours from her home to the market. She did not have much money so she only bought a blanket. From now through the Tet, she will have to buy 20 blankets for the “Cap Sac” rites for her son. Dao ethnic boys from 12 years old or older have to invite neighbors to a feast to recognize their maturity. This woman’s son is 17 years old and the family plans to organize the maturity rite for him after Tet.

Many people bought this kind of paper to burn for the death during Tet. Sorcerers will stamp these papers to turn them into money for the dead.

Most children in this region quit school very early. Many young women took their children to the market.

According to traders, last year local people were granted cash allowances but this year they received only rice so the purchasing power this year was low.

Many people went to the market to just see their friends, to drink some cups of wine or to taste a bowl of sour soup.

The fair lasted in the early afternoon.