Kaleidoscope -EXPERIENCE LIFE IN THE TRIBAL VILLAGES OF SAPA

When urban dwellers wish to get away from the heat and congestion of the city, they travel to the cool Hoang Lien mountains and mingle with the tribal people who live in scattered villages in the valleys and hill slopes over the centuries in Sapa district. They are the Hmong and Dzao minority ethnic groups in North West Vietnam near the border to Southern China. Historically, they were descendents of immigrants who crossed over the border from China.

The tribal people are mainly farmers who carved out beautiful terraces on mountain slopes to plant their main crops of padi, corn and rye. Vegetables, medicinal herbs and linen for making fabrics are also important. They trade their produce for other products at weekend markets in Sapa town. These venues are also for social gatherings among the tribal community including finding lovers and life partners. They adorn colourfully embroidered clothes and elaborate accessories. They have their own unique Hmong-Dzao spoken language and Dzao have also long used Chinese writings (but pronunciations are in the Dzao way).

French imprint in Sapa town - a church and the square with the
prominent star (foreground). It is also near the site where the
popular Saturday and reputed ‘love markets’ are held.

A tribal woman doing her craft near the many steep streets
in town.

A busy side street in the morning.

Sapa market - besides the stall vendors, tribal women including
children peddle their craft work.

The fusion of food and goods of many kinds in the market.

The handicraft market.

Village life in the beautiful mountains.

Farmers at work and the road into the villages.

Waterfall, tribal vendors and tourists near Cat Cat Village.

The world without borders - making friends. Young tourists
playing and sharing with a tribal girl vendor.

Hmong woman attending to her child at her stall.

The trek and bridge leading to Cat Cat village belonging
to Hmongs.

Cat Cat Village houses among the terraced fields.
Traditional houses are made of timber standing on stilts and have
three rooms and three doors. The front door is always closed
except for significant occasions.

A resident returning home. Legend has it that the residents are
descendents of a Chinese princess who ran away from home to
settle here. Some of the residents can speak Chinese.

The roof of traditional houses are usually made from po mu
wood and residents weave and dye their own linen fabrics.
Hmongs are distinguishable from others by their headgears and
deep indigo coloured clothes.

Two red Dzao ladies. They adorn red headgears and shave
their heads and eyebrow to enhance their looks.

Hmong women and children mingling with tourists.

Ta Van Village is a big village in the beautiful valley of the Hmong
and Dzao people. It has a primary school but seemingly,
for boys only. Girls are generally denied of education and
are out peddling handicraft to tourists.

Houses in Ta Van in the higher reaches of the valley.

Basic materials in timber and bamboo used for building homes
and fencings.