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The Population in the 1999 census
Kinh (Viet) 86.2%
Tay 1.9%
Thai 1.7%
Muong 1.5%
Khome 1.4%
Hoa 1.1%
Nun 1.1%
Hmong 1%
others 4.1%
Kinh (Viet) Ladies wear triangular and the men wear
ex-army hats.
The Tay – Thai People Includes 8 groups totalling more than 3.9
million.
The Muong Population of over 1.13 million. Cultivate wet rice and live in the
valleys
The Hmong
Present since the 18th century, they live in the highlands almost
exclusively as dry rice cultivators. Many
are now cultivating wet-rice on hill slopes. Agricultural products include maize,
rice, vegetables, hemp and cotton.
Hmong groups are White, Blue, Black, red
and flowered. Every group has its local nuances
that are evident in dialects, customs and
in women’s clothing.
The Red Hmong people are relatively rich
tribe. Spend 4 months growing sweet
corn, followed by 4 months of dry rice,
4 months off spent partying. Our guide said
that it was not unusual for them to grow
20 to 30 tons corn a year (which is on the
hillside in the mountains, not in the valleys,
as was the dry rice) which they sold for
3m dong per tonne. (which equates to a few
thousand £ per year). The grow rice
for their own food and don't sell it.
Used pack horses to transport goods.
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In our travels we met up with several of
the ethnic tribes and we walked around many
of the villages. The people still wear
their traditional costume. From our visits
to some of the homes it seems that they have
one outfit to wear and one in the wash.
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Areca
Some tribes chew an Areca (Batel) nut
wrapped in a Betel leaf. It is often combined
with limestone and tobacco and chewed like
a drug. Regular betel chewing causes the
teeth and gums to be stained red or black.
It is believed to reduce the incidence of
cavities and is often a tribal symbol, however,
it is known by educated people that it causes
mouth cancer.
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