Si Ma Cai locates in the Northeast of Lao Cai, is 95km far from the center; the North borders with Muong Khuong district –Lao Cai province and Ma Quan district – Van Nam province – Chia; the South borders with Bac Ha district – Lao Cai province, the West borders with Muong Khuong district – Lao Cai, the East borders with Sin Man district – ha Giang province.
The terrain of Si Mi Ca belongs to hollow arch of Chay river (mountain region has the oldest age in comparison with the North structure base), which is created by many mountain ranges running along with the Northeast –Southwest, lower gradually towards the North with particularly big elevation classification, diving joint, many narrow valleys.
Mountain range mainly includes: Mountain joint of district terrain center origins from the southeast of Nan Sin commune running through mountain peak with height of 1.800m to 1,630 m towards the Northeast – southwest to the final point belonging to the Northeast of San Chai commune. Mountain joint in the Northhwest runs towards arc direction with main direction of the northeast – southwest. In addition, in the Southeast of district is formed by the end of small mountain chains running from Bac Ha towards the Northeast - Southwest
Natural area of whole district is 235km2. The population is 33,58 people, population density is 143 people/km2, includes 11 enthic groups in which they are mainly Mong people (accounting for 82.52 percent of whole district’s population). The district has 13 communes (Thao Chu Phin, Ban Me, San Chai, Lung Sui, Man Than, Can Ho, Sin cheng, Lu Than, Quan Than San, Can Cau, Nan Sin, Nan San, Si Ma Cai) in which Si Ma Cai commune is district capital.
Si Mi ca attraction means of “new horse market”, because in the long time ago, the market met in 6 days per one time in Cu Street. The terrain of Cu Street was relatively flat, then residents built house closely at two sides; arounding Cu street was one forest, and there was probidden forest, then people living in Cu Street had surplus of water resource, evenly people exploited completely one water rice field. Gradually, market was transferred to the halfway of mountain, despite of being lack of water, the terrain was opening, eyesight could view whole large area, and Si Ma Cai name was formed, according to sound of Mong people, It is Xenh Mua Ca
Si Ma Ca is high moutainous area with 11 enthic groups. In which the most crowded one is Mong. Mong people have a treasure of interesting national culture with Sai San festival and folk spring recorded deeply from generations to generations. Dances of Mong Si Ma Cai people is printed deeply with martial art .Despite of dancing stick or towel to Linh Chua dance, etc they all have movement of quick and strong martial art. While, Nung, La Chi people have festivals associating with nature, maintenance forbidden forest, environment protection. Especially, cultural characters of enthic groups in Si Ma Cai reflect boldly in market days. Market days not only become the center for trading economy but also exchanging culture.
If being similar to Sapa, Bac Ha and many current places transferred gradually exchanging characters to trading market, Si Ma Cai still keeps its particular characters. Firstly, it is the place for tieing horse at the beinging of market. Next is blacksmith’s ones. Entering the market, along with two sides, we can see commodity ranges arranged at fixed order: they are sugar – cane, banana, cloth…to food, brocade. And some commodities such as races: pig, chicken, duck, swan, etc are regulated at one separated corner of the market. At the the behind of two sides, there are shops in which Thang Co is the most particular dish in this region. People coming to the market, usually exchange their emotion, spirit, and ask news from their relatives as well as business experiences. The market also becomes the center for transferring news.