Friday, November 9, 2018

The beauty of main ethnic minorities in Sapa, Vietnam

When traveling to Northwest Vietnam, you will have a chance to experience the various cultures of ethnic groups. Discover the cultural and natural treasures of the Vietnam Northwest mountainous areas. These are the least traveled areas in the North of Vietnam and promise to offer local cultural immersion in the remote areas that is home to many ethnic minority people.

Visiting Sapa in a day of fair trade, tourists will be overwhelmed with colorful costumes of men and women of H’mong, Dao Do, Tay, and Xa Pho people. Each ethnic group has distinguished language, customs, and lifestyle, which contributes to the diverse culture of Sapa.

1. Black Hmong – The leader of the mysterious land

The H’Mong occupies over 50% of the population in Sa Pa and is considered the largest ethnic minority in Sapa. At there, the village of H’Mong people living most is Cat Cat, near the town about 2km.

The beauty of main ethnic minorities in Sapa, Vietnam
Photo by Stephan Klage
Clothes of the H’Mong Sa Pa people are easy to see: men usually wear black pants or dark blue, short-sleeved shirt like a gile with a long skirt. On the head often wear a little hat, round, shallow, embrace the top of the head.

The women also wear black, the head also wears a black scarf. Outside is a sleeveless jacket, with a long skirt close to the knee. This particular jacket is rolled with beeswax, giving it a silvery-black color. In particular, H’Mong women wear shorts across their knees rather than wearing skirts.

The main agricultural products of the H’Mong are maize, rice grown on terraced fields, potatoes, beans and vegetables. Fruits such as apples, peaches, plums are also very popular. Besides, they also planted herbs that have good healing effects.

Gau Tao is a prominent festival of the H’Mong people, folk songs are not only expressed in words but also expressed through the musical instruments such as flute, trumpet, lip. Young H’Mong people like to play “khen”, just blowing and dancing to send and express their hearts with their mates, praising the beauty of life, the homeland of the country.

2. Red Dao – The most mysterious ethnic minority in Vietnam

The beauty of main ethnic minorities in Sapa, Vietnam 1
Photo by collect on the internet
Among the Sapa ethnic minorities, the Red Dao ethnic minority has a second population after the H’Mong. In particular, Ta Phin village is crowded with the Red Dzao ethnic people with many unique traditions that many visitors choose as the destination. Ta Phin is about 12km from Sa Pa town, the road into the village is winding and there are many steep sections.

Red Dao men usually tie their hair in the back of their neck. Clothing is usually short with indigo and black. The costumes of the Red Dao women are brighter with 5 colors and red is always the main color. Red Dao with long hair wrapped in a scarf on the head, the scarf is red and it is triangular.

The most important festival in the life of the Red Dao is the “Cap Sac” ceremony held in November, December each year. The ceremonies of the Red Dao have a spiritual meaning in life as well as a high education. Deep in the traditional ceremony of the Red Dao for identity is to educate people to always remember their ancestors.

3. Tay – The ancient communities in the misty land

The beauty of main ethnic minorities in Sapa, Vietnam 2
Photo by collect on the internet
Tay is the third largest population in Sa Pa and appeared in Vietnam thousands of years ago. In Sa Pa they live in some southern communes such as Ban Ho, Nam Sai, Thanh Phu. These are flat, fertile valleys, many rivers and streams, which are very convenient for fishing and farming.

Traditional costumes of the Tay are quite simple, the only color is a dark indigo (dark blue). Men and women wear a four-breasted blouse, a round neck with two front pockets, and a large waistband wrapped around the waist. On the occasion of the festive season, wear a long shirt, cut underarms, chiseled cloth or chamois. Women wear a square scarf.

On art and culture, the Tay people have many folk songs attractive. In January each year, the Tay ethnic minority groups hold a feast at Ta Van village to pray for a good harvest.

If you like to explore the activities of the Tay, you can visit the Ho village (about 15 Km from Sapa) or to the Den village (about 18 km from Sapa). The villages of Tay ethnic minority locate on moutains so very hard to come but the landscape is really beautiful.

4. Giay ethnic people have a diverse and unique culture

The beauty of main ethnic minorities in Sapa, Vietnam 3
Photo by collect on the internet
The total number of Giay people in Vietnam is only over 25,000 and in Sa Pa they account for only 2%, concentrated in villages around Ta Van and Lao Chai valleys. Giay grows on flat land. In addition to rice cultivation, the Giay also raise chickens, ducks, buffalos, horses … Giay people’s clothing is as simple as the Tay, less embroidered and only the color band around the neck and lace. Giay people in Sapa make house on the ground, wooden wall, the mezzanine has worship hall in the middle and the reception.

Giay’s typical festival is “Gion Pooc” in January to pray for a good fruit tree, good weather and good weather. The prose of proverbial folk songs and rhythms of Giay people are rich, especially there are many stories to explain the phenomena of nature and society. Giay folk songs are sung in all social activities such as funerals, weddings, blessings, festivals and especially when boys flirt.

5. Xa Pho ethnic minority – Special culture comes from the mountains

The beauty of main ethnic minorities in Sapa, Vietnam 4
Photo by collect on the internet
Xa Pho ethnic minority belongs to the Phu La ethnic group and the national population is only 4,000. At present, there are very few Xa Pho people living in the villages of Nam Sai commune, which lies to the south of Sapa. It is a secluded place so traveling is difficult and not often exposed to other places. So far, some Xà Pho people use their own language and some of them still maintain their mother tongue in the Burmese language.

Xa Pho is often cultivated on terraced fields or swidden fields and they exchange labor very cordially. They like to house stilts, next to the small sheds to store rice. In addition to raising poultry, they are good at planting cotton weaving and knitting bamboo rattan. Xa Pho villages in Sa Pa are poor but the people are very generous and the girls are always happy to sing and dance whenever guests come to visit.

The above is some knowledges of the Sapa ethnic minorities and their culture. Although ethnic minorities have received knowledge from the modern world, the latter are mysterious cultures that you will not be able to resist. Come to Sapa and find out about the ethnic minority here!