The Tribal People

The Black Hmongs and Red Dzao call the hills of Sapa their home. 

Like most tribal groups their mainstay is agriculture and padi is grown only once a year. Cut terraces are seen in the hills for planting rice and other cash crops.

So beautiful and relaxing. People here have every reason to live longer.

Though tribal, the ethnic groups are not spared of money mattters. They have grown commercialized too and not traditional in their business acumen.

The women folk are into weaving and produce mats, table runners, cushions and a variety of ornaments for the home. We seem to see only women and later we have been told that the men are in the main cities seeking for higher pays to supplement the family income. So, the women are left behind to look after the children, farms and weave, cross stitch and sew for menial incomes.

Here is a basket maker. Many tourists are attracted to their art and craft.

 The honey sellers. We actually see them extracting honey from hives and the product is genuine.

The local children are "free range" type and grow up tough unafraid of fevers and colds. They play traditional games and we hardly see them with technological gadgets just like the time when we grew up. 

 They have almost same facial features and I suspect inter-tribal marriages and so they look so alike.

When we walk the streets in the night, we saw minors taking the roles of adults. In traditional clothes they may be aiming for the sympathy of tourists to buy gifts from them. The little brother was wailing and the big sister tried to pacify him with a bottle of orange juice. It was so heart -breaking to see the little one being given such a huge role. But at the same time, the training make them into the most persuasive vendors and you will be surprised how persistent they can be.

You will give in because of their persistence. They also multi-task.

The little girl will grow up being an expert in child-minding and looking after the home just like this house wife above. She spoke a fair bit of English. When asked where she received her learning she reiterated that it was from mingling with tourists!

She says she speaks much English but can hardly write though she recognizes some words. She was adamant in learning English as it will add advantage to her rice bowl.

 Look at this local lass. She is called Carr and her spoken English was truly commendable. She is 15 but has to stop school due to poverty. In Vietnam , education is not free. There is a need for fees. Given an opportunity, she wants to go to Sapa town to enrol in a tourism course that will enable her a chance to be a tourist guide. From young till this age, her world is filled with the sight of tourists and her dream is only to be a guide. So simple and felt sorry for this bright lass. She followed me non-stop and I finally gave in to her call. I bought for the sake of stopping her from following me. But she reminded me of some back home who need to be put to shame. Back home, the English Language is widely used and yet there are so many reluctant learners.

Here is another Hmong girl. She is 16; married and is expecting her first baby. There is no room for tiredness and she moves so swiftly in chase of the tourists. All she aims for is that someone buys from her. Her favourite phrase was " You buy from her; so you must buy from me too...please. Please buy something from me too..." I tried not to get irritated and tried all means to push her away. Believe me they know their trade very well. Keep persisting and she will win. I wonder if they know they may be hindering tourists a second visit. It is quite exasperating. Some of us just donated and told them to release us. What an irony. 

 Wherever teachers go, they like to visit schools. That was what we did. We could not resist going into a local school and be immersed in them.

They emphasize on learning Vietnamese language and the English Language. They have already realize the importance of understanding the foreign lingo and know that the knowledge will bring them far. Even in such a simple set up, the children learn. Today, in the Timms and Pisa evaluation tests, the country has super ceded many counter parts including our homeland.

Some of us join in the morning assembly, sang and danced to the tune of 5 little ducklings. It reminded me of Michelle back home

The tribes of Sapa.