On the Trail of Vietnam's Hill Tribes
A Look at the Unique Culture of these Diverse Peoples
Jun 27, 2009
Scattered throughout Southeast Asia are a number of primitive, mountain-dwelling tribes known as the Hill Tribes. The Hill Tribes are found in Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, and China, and have continued to live in harmony with nature. They are a diverse group, many of them having their own languages, cultural activities, clothing styles, housing styles, art, and belief systems.
In Vietnam alone, there are fifty-four distinct Hill Tribes. These ethnic groups only represent ten percent of Vietnam’s total population, so protecting their culture is very important to them. As such, the villages inhabited by the Hill Tribes are relatively undeveloped, and life goes on as it has for centuries. Even so, the cultural diversity and history of Vietnam’s Hill Tribes makes the area a popular tourist destination.
Vietnam Cultural Tours by Handspan Adventure Travel
Established in 1997, Handspan Adventure Travel offers unique cultural tours in Vietnam, while still maintaining the natural and human resources of the country. Although the company has grown significantly since it was started twelve years ago, the sizes of tour groups are limited to six on most treks to ensure that the local village cultures are respected.
Thanks to Handspan Adventure Travel, visitors to Hill Tribe villages are able to stay in traditional houses with local families to learn first-hand about the culture. Many houses were once stilt houses or mud huts with mud floors and no doors; however, the money spent by travelers has been used to renovate the homes by providing concrete floors and outhouses, which a number of villages still lack. Some houses even have generators and fans to help deal with the heat. Handspan Adventure Travel has effectively used tourism to improve the quality of life, as well as the environmental conditions.
From Music to Food to Celebrations, There's a Lot of Culture in Vietnam
The locals sell pillowcases, bracelets, clothing, baskets, silverwork, and other objects significant to the Hill Tribe lifestyle. Their clothing includes vibrant-colored blouses, headdresses, indigo tops and trousers, and cylindrical hats. The music of the Hill Tribes, particularly the Muong Tribe, includes gongs, drums, flutes, panpipes, and two-stringed violins. The village of Sa Pa is famous for its ‘love market’, where men sing and play instruments, and women sing to attract partners. In addition, tourists will also enjoy visiting spirit houses, and seeing authentic shamans and ceremonies that honor ancestors. The first day of Akha-zang (the rice harvest) is highly celebrated, as is the Swing Festival, a ceremony to thank the spirits of the land and sky, which concludes with dancing and a large feast.
Hill Tribe food consists of rice, cooked vegetables, roasted fish, and pork. Sabier is a delicacy made of minced pork with herbs, roasted in banana leaves, and heated in charcoal. Some tribes also prepare dog meat early in the morning.
The villages inhabited by the Hill Tribes and the surrounding lands exemplify the beauty that Vietnam has to offer. Don’t miss your opportunity to experience this extraordinary and pristine culture that has already fascinated so many visitors.
