The Hmong Tribes on the Border of North Vietnam and South China CLICK on the image to enlarge

The traditional Hmong tribes people live all over SouthEast Asia.  There are five tribes in North Vietnam on the border with China and Laos.  We were fortunate to be able to visit two of the tribes in their villages and see the others in the town of Sapa.

The Black Hmong are named for the "black" indigo-dyed clothing and the residue which stains their skin.  Above left, you can see the black residue on her neck.  Whereas if you look at my neck, you can see still the "red".

Today, they live primarily on rice production and a small tourism trade.  The Red Zao Hmong villagers took Laura and me into one of their homes and were very frank about the changes going on, which

included a brief history of the changing roles for women, the Chinese invasion during 1977, and when we would leave them alone (just a joke). No, actually we were very comfortable hanging with them, or - as I like to say, we hung among the Hmong.

CLICK on these for a closeup of Red Zao Hmong craftwork