Hmong Tribe

The record shows that almost one million Hmong Tribe people are living in Vietnam. Most of them have an abode on the premises of the mountainous region alongside the northern border. The Vietnamese government does not allow them to practice their traditions and religious practices easily. Let introduce a little history of the Hmong tribe and how they sustained cultural, political and economic change.

It is known in the pages of history that Hmong Tribe people settled in the area around the Yellow River in China. Many were farmers and they continue to shift their crops unless the land becomes infertile. The farmers of tribe grew corn and rice in the lowlands of a hill, however, wheat and barely at the higher altitudes. As the land became infertile, so they continue to shift to new lands and started overgrowing those crops. It has given many advantages to the tribe but due to this, ruling dynasties made them their easy target.

In the late 18th century, as the population of the Chinese Han grew, Hmong Tribe people were forced to settle in the areas bordering Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand. Those who resisted were butchered by the Qing Dynasty of the Chinese government. Hmong people were warriors and they have some open conflicts with the Chinese dynasty. By the end of the twentieth century, land for agricultural purposes became less, hence the government of Vietnam forced them to change their ways of living. Therefore, instead of changing their settlement time and again, they had to settle in one place for cultivation.

The Hmong village which we see today came into being as a result of their new lifestyle. Lineages of the Hmong People are not easy to find; however, the color of their clothes distinguishes them from others. For instance, Green, Leng, Black, White, and Striped are most of the colors used in their own traditions and customs. Since that time when Vietnam opened its border for the Hmong people in Vietnam, the Hmong tribe has shifted its economy from agriculture to purely tourism.

Markets like Lao Cai, Sa Pa, and Ha Giang are full of various kinds of jewelry and garments. In this modern age of tourism, the Hmong Tribe is adopting the new ways which make it beautiful and attractive for all types of visitors.