The Hmong (also known as Mông) are one of the largest and most well-known minority ethnic groups in the mountains of northern Vietnam. Originally from China, where they are classified within the Miao group, they began migrating southward about 300 years ago.
In Vietnam, the Hmong population exceeds 1.39 million people (2019 data). They are divided into several subgroups, primarily identifiable by the color and style of their traditional clothing:
Black Hmong (Hmong Den): Famous in the Sapa region (Lao Cai), they wear hemp clothing dyed an indigo blue that is almost black.
Flower Hmong (Hmong Hoa): Recognized for their extremely colorful dresses and complex embroidery, mainly found in Bac Ha and Ha Giang.
White, Green/Blue, and Red Hmong: Other subgroups distributed across provinces such as Son La, Dien Bien, and Lai Chau.
Agriculture: They are masters of cultivating rice terraces and buckwheat on steep slopes. They also grow corn, which is a staple food for many mountain communities.
Craftsmanship: Hmong women are experts in batik (using beeswax to create patterns), hemp weaving, and hand embroidery. These products are now a key source of income thanks to tourism.
Spirituality: They practice animism and shamanism. They believe each person has multiple souls and that the shaman (Txiv Neeb) can travel to the spirit world to heal illnesses by calling back a lost soul.
Festivals: The Tet (Hmong New Year) is traditionally celebrated a month before the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. it includes traditional games like ném pao (cloth ball tossing) to find a partner and music played with the khèn (bamboo flute).
Photo Gallery: © Jordi Zaragozà Anglès / Vietnam - 2010
Extended info about Hmong People