The People of Sapa
Sapa, located in the beautiful mountains of northern Vietnam, is home to several ethnic minority groups. Vietnam officially recognizes 54 ethnic groups, with the Kinh/Viet group making up 85% of the population (1). The remaining 15% consists of minority groups, each with its own unique traditions.
In Sapa, you'll find five main ethnic groups: the Hmong (52%), Dao (25%), Tay (5%), Giay (2%), and Xa Pho (1%) (2). While Sapa Town is growing quickly, most of these groups live in the surrounding, more peaceful villages. Each group has their own language, customs, clothing, and beliefs.
The daily life of these communities is often divided by gender: men work the fields and care for livestock, while women help in the fields, manage the household, care for children, and the little time they have left, they spend making beautiful handicrafts. These crafts include hemp and bamboo weaving, indigo dyeing, embroidery, batik, and silver carving. The results are stunning clothes,, scarves, bags, baskets, and jewellery.
All of these groups honor their ancestors and worship various spirits, such as those of nature, agriculture, and the home. Some are also influenced by Christianity, Confucianism, Taoism, or Buddhism.
Festivals play an important role, especially around the Vietnamese Tet Lunar New Year. It’s a time for families and communities to come together, enjoy food, play traditional music instruments, dance, and play traditional games. It’s a celebration, filled with hopes for health, prosperity, and good harvests in the new year.
Despite their rich heritage, many of these ethnic groups face challenges rooted in marginalization and discrimination, with vast inequalities limiting access to education, job opportunities, and economic stability.
Read more about the challenges faced by our communities here and continue below to find out more about each ethnic group.
The Hmong
The Hmong peoples originally came from China and migrated to the northern mountains of Vietnam around 200-300 years ago. They are divided into several sub-groups, including the Black Hmong, White Hmong, Blue Hmong, and Flower Hmong, with the Black Hmong being the most predominant in the area.
How to recognize them?
The Hmong People are easily recognized by their distinctive indigo-dyed clothing, which is often decorated with vibrant and intricate embroidery patterns. The women make these clothes themselves, showcasing their exceptional sewing and embroidery skills.
The Hmong are known for their ability to settle in the remote, rugged mountains, which has made them exceptional trail guides. They are also highly skilled in sewing, embroidery, and batik, with these traditions being passed down through generations.
A unique aspect of Hmong culture is the marriage ritual known as 'wife-kidnapping.' After meeting, the boy will kidnap the girl and keep her in his home for three days, during which his family tries to persuade her to accept the marriage. Afterward, she can choose whether to marry him or return to her family. However, this tradition is becoming less common, with many couples now simply asking for parental permission.
The most important celebration for the Hmong people is the Gau Tao Festival.
The Dao
The Dao peoples originated in China and migrated to the northern mountains of Vietnam around 700-800 years ago, before the Hmong. Their sub-groups include Red Dao, Black Dao, and White Dao, with the Red Dao being the most predominant in the area.
How to recognize them?
They are easily recognized by their striking red headwear.
The Dao are known for their beauty tradition where women shave their eyebrows and part of the hair around their head. They are also famous for their knowledge of herbal medicine, cultivating many medicinal plants for treating illnesses, as well as for herbal baths and therapeutic massages. Herbal baths, which are said to detoxify the body, relieve muscle aches, and improve bone health, are a must-try after a hike in Sapa.
In addition, the Dao’s wedding ceremony is a significant event, where representatives from both families come together, and a shaman informs the ancestors that the bride is now part of her husband’s family, praying for her happiness and peace in her new home.
The most important celebration for the Dao people is the Tet Nhay Festival.
The Tay
The Tay people likely originated in inland Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, and migrated to Vietnam around 500 BC. They are the largest and earliest known minority group in Vietnam, and due to their long presence in the country, many have integrated with the Vietnamese, and no longer wearing traditional clothing.
How to recognize them?
The traditional clothes of the Tay people is simple, plain dark-dyed clothes, typically consisting of dark shirts and trousers with minimal decoration.
The Tay are known for settling in valleys and plains near rivers and lakes, where they practice wet farming and wild fishing. They are also known for making their own tiles for roofing, which sets their houses apart from those of other minority groups.
The most important celebration for the Tay people is the Long Tong Festival.
The Giay
The Giay people originated in China and migrated to Vietnam around 200-300 years ago.
They can be recognized by their simple, plain clothing, similar to the Tay, typically wearing brightly colored shirts, dark trousers, and their colorful headscarf.
The Giay are known for their artistic pursuits, especially their traditional trio of musical instruments, which includes the drum, gong, and pi le clarinet. They mainly sustain themselves by cultivating ordinary water rice.
The most important celebration for the Giay people is the Roong Poc Festival.
The Xo Pho
The Xo Pho people are believed to have originated in southern Southeast Asian countries, such as Malaysia and Indonesia, before migrating to Vietnam around 200-300 years ago. They are one of the smallest and poorest minority groups in Vietnam, living in the remote, southernmost areas of Sapa with lower living standards compared to other minority groups.
They can be recognized by their indigo-dyed clothes, which are decorated with large red embroidery patterns, such as hills and pine trees.
The Xo Pho are known for their strong community spirit, sharing resources based on need. If a family has no food, they can rely on neighbors, and if no one has food, the entire village will forage fruits and vegetables together. They are also very friendly and hospitable, often greeting guests with cheerful dances.
The most important celebration for the Xo Pho people is the Sweeping Rite.
Photo by: Xa Ma
