Bustling Nghien Loan Cattle Market
For Vietnam, a country with a long tradition of wet-rice cultivation, buffaloes and cattle play a vital role. Notably, historic markets like U (Nghe An), Ban (Thanh Hoa), Bac Ha, Cai Cau (Lao Cai), Tra Linh (Cao Bang) have thrived for centuries. Among these, the Nghien Loan Buffalo and Cattle Market in Pac Nam district, Bac Kan province, stands out as the country's largest and culturally distinctive trading hub.
Located in the Nghien Loan commune, Pac Nam district, Bac Kan province, this buffalo and cattle market lies within a valley, encompassing the Dinh and Khuoi Un hamlets. It is conveniently situated around 500m from provincial road 258B, facilitating transportation, merchandise gathering, trading, and shipping.
The trading process at the market is straightforward. Sellers propose prices, and buyers have the freedom to negotiate until an agreement is reached. Once a deal is struck, the money is counted, and the livestock is led away. Ma Kien Luu, who hails from Cao Bang province, shared, "I frequently visit this market to buy buffaloes and cattle. Trading here is easy and quick. The locals are honest and do not overcharge. In each session, I typically buy 9-10 buffaloes and cows. I purchase around 100 livestock per month from this market".
Currently, at the Nghien Loan market, buffaloes and cattle are priced differently based on size, weight, and age. A well-fed buffalo or cow aged 3-4 years can fetch nearly 40 million dong (1,666 US dollars). Prices vary for each animal, with a one-year-old calf costing over 10 million dong (416 US dollars). Local residents often come to the market to buy calves, or skinny livestock, which they fatten up and later sell for profit later.
Some individuals come to the market specifically to purchase livestock for farming and breeding purposes. Duong Van Ky, a Mong man from Na Phay hamlet in Nghien Loan commune, said, "My wife and I came to the market to buy a female buffalo. We already have 5 male buffaloes, but we want to buy another one for breeding. We recently sold a male buffalo for over 20 million dong (833 US dollars), so we have the money to buy a new one."
Nguyen Van Vich from Lom Meo hamlet, Chu Huong commune, Ba Be district, traveled nearly 20km to sell five cows at the market. The largest one, aged four, was priced at 16.5 million dong (approximately 687 US dollars), while the smallest, a one-year-old calf, was priced at eight million dong (333 US dollars). Vich explained, "I specialize in selling cattle. I bring 5-6 cows to the market in each session. I buy them from local residents and then sell them at the market. Sometimes I make a profit of one or two million dong (41-83 US dollars) per animal, and there are times when I earn 200,000 - 300,000 dong (8.3-12.5 US dollars) per animal". The market also features many skinny buffaloes and cattle, which are typically purchased by families with means or traders who fatten them up before reselling them. Luong Van Thuat from Khang Ninh, Ba Be district, invested nearly 60 million dong (2,500 US dollars) to buy three large but skinny buffaloes. Thuat said, "I have a place to raise them, and I buy them to keep for about 1-2 months before bringing them back to the market to sell. I can make a profit of a few 4 million dong per animal".
Story: Do Quang Tuan Hoang
Photos: Hoang Giang, Do Quang Tuan Hoang
Designer: Trang Nhung
Translated by Nguyen Tuoi