Who are the hmong?

The Hmong are originating in the south of China and, from the EIGHTEENTH century, many have emigrated to the north of Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and other parts of southeast asia. Interestingly, more than 170,000 live in the US, approximately 15,000 living in France, and a few thousands more live in Australia, Canada and other countries. This is due at least in part to the fact that, during the Vietnam war, a part of the population of the Hmong fought on the side of the americans and, following the defeat of these, many migrated as refugees or asylees politicians in the US and other western countries.

In Vietnam, the Hmong are one of the more than 50 ethnic minority in the country and are mainly concentrated in mountainous areas of the northern area of Vietnam. If you want to know the culture of the hmong during your trip to Vietnam, you will be able to find you without a doubt lugarres as Ha Giang, Sapa, or Mu Cang Chai.

What are the hmong people in a single group?

The Hmong people are not a homogenous group, but they are divided into subgroups with and dress and customs are different. In Vietnam, for example, we can find you the Hmong people, black, white, green, striped, floral, red (each group can be recognized by their clothing). Something they have in common all the hmong people is their language, despite the fact that there are different dialects.

Interestingly, the new technologies have helped to connect to hmong to each other: there are movies, YouTube channels and tv programs online in the language of the hmong. An anecdote interesane was told to me by a hmong in Mu Cang Chai, which is a tourist guide. During a tour that was taking place in Hanoi, he met a hmong of Thailand, who had lived almost all his life in the US. During their meeting, they were talking in the language of the hmong, during a few hours.

One last interesting fact about the hmong living in Vietnam is that the majority are able to speak both vietnamese and hmong. However, some do not speak virtually no vietnamese, especially the elderly.

What is the religion of the hmong people?

The Hmong people follow multiple religions. Many continue to shamanic practices, this is, believe in shamans that can help them to deal with problems such as diseases, spirits, bad luck, etc., on the other hand, many hmong people are christians due to the influence of western missionaries, and the influence of French culture during the time in which Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos were part of French Indochina.

What are the houses of the hmong in Vietnam?

There are different types of configurations of houses hmong, but are normally made of wood and have two floors: the bottom is usually located in the kitchen (usually a stake in the ground), the dining room and, if you have it, a place for the animals; while on the floor above you will often find the bedrooms. Currently, each house of the hmong is different, having many that did not follow the pattern that I have just discussed, although it is true that most of them are made out of wood.

what living the hmong?

The majority of the hmong people working in the field, cultivating rice, corn and vegetables, which are often sold in markets humid (street markets). In addition, many breed animals such as water buffalo, chickens, ducks, etc, to work in the fields, the self-consumption of food and the sale.

How is the family organization of the hmong?

The hmong people are a society is patrilineal, at least those that live in the mountains of northern Vietnam. When a woman marries a man, this happens to be part of the family of him and move to his house. Interestingly, if a woman of the hmong, black house, a man of the hmong, white, this will change your outfit to adopt your new family. Finally, the man’s family must pay a dowry, traditionally in silver, to the family of the woman and, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica if a woman is unfaithful to her husband, the family of this you could ask for the dowry paid back.

If you want to know more about the vietnamese culture, don’t miss the videos of this playlist.