Tonkin Alps

The overnight first class 4" sleeper, sleeps 4 and is cosy enough with a thick duvet covered red quilt and pillow. Not enough room to sit up top, but fine horizontally. Its an eight hour trip and the train staff wakes everyone at 5AM for a 30 minute warning. Its the end of the line so its not like one could get dragged off to a further destination, but its cold and dark and everyone is graggy.
Thuan meets us as we walk out of the station to a nearby hotel for breakfast. My stomach hasn't been all that happy for a few days, so I eat yogurt. Then we are off to see a bit of Lao Cai,noted for mining. The border with China is a short drive away.


The A frame is the Chinese entry point. Literally hundreds of sellers/traders are racing across the bridge at 8Am when the border opens. They want to get a good place in the market on the other side. This is a daily occurrence, so much for government controlled economies.
We drive on to even more freewheeling encounters with the Flower Hmong, Black Dzao and Phu La peoples at the Saturday market in Can Cau. Lovely vista along the way.


Crowded with people and motor scooters the open air market is a riot of color and activity.


Cell phones and ginger, traders always in communication.


So many choices, what to buy today?



The market pharmacy provides answers to all ones ills.


Need a hair cut? You've come to the right place.


Babies securely and elegantly snug at mama's back. Bejeweled garments are no doubt a sign of some statice.


Trying out a new skirt. the market is a little food and lots of clothing, hand made in local villages with sewing machines and literally by hand.


And of course there are plenty of items for tourists as well: wall hangings, pillow covers, scarves, silver jewelry


-On the road with Kathryn