The Hmong of North Vietnam- a Photo Essay

From clan to clan and village to village the style and colour of Vietnams ethnic minority groups showcase a vibrant and fascinating culture of textile traditions.  One of the largest and most diverse of these groups is that of the Hmong.  From the sedate indigo garb of the Black Hmong of Sapa to the explosive colour of the Flower Hmong around Lao Cai each has adopted a unique costume and identity.  Here are just some of the beautiful Hmong I've encountered on my travels through Northern Vietnam.

Sapa is home to the Black Hmong. Most people that have travelled to Sapa will have encountered these beautiful women with their indigo hemp jackets, skirts and hats. The ubiquitous checked nylon scarfs are an ever present accessory across all the Hmong clans.

if you are in Sapa around the New Year you can see the Black Hmong from around the district celebrate the Spring Festival - where thousands gather in their full traditional costume for a day of traditional games and rituals. Whilst most women wear their tradtional clothing all the time - this festival is an opportunity to also see the men and boys all decked out.

Many of the Black Hmong women around the Lao Cai province can be seen winding hemp fibres as they go about their day.

The Black Hmong from Sapa still use traditional hemp to make their fabrics.

The Hmong still use traditional indigo dye methods to dye their trade mark indigo outfits.

The Blue Hmong wear an outfit similar to those worn by the Flower Hmong - with the exception of all the decoration on their skirts and jackets being in blue.

Many of the White Hmong clans stopped wearing their natural hemp skirts when Uncle Ho decreed them impractical for working in the field. However you can still find some villages that wear their white skirts.

Without their white skirts you can easily recognise someone from a White Hmong clan by her black peaked turban.

The style and height of a White Hmong turban is different from village to villages.

Many of the White Hmong around Sinho attach a scarf to the top of their turban to give it extra height.

The White Hmong of this village no longer wear their white skirts but their peaked black turbans adorned with brightly coloured pom poms identify them as being White Hmong.

The Red Hmong around the Sinho area are usually recognisable by their red wool turbans.

The White Hmong in this village have adapted the same scarves at their Black Thai neighbours.

The Red Hmong of this village opt for a different hair style and are recognised by their black and white checked headband.

Even though many of the Hmong woman are opting to wear synthentic skirts bought ready made at the markets - there are still some women opting to incorporate hand embroidered panels into their garments.

The Red Hmong in the area around Dien Ben Phu are recognisable by the bright red decorations on their skirts.

One of the brightest and most colourful of the Hmong clans are those of the Flower Hmong in the Lao Cai province.

In the past all the embroidery on the jackets and skirts of the Flower Hmong was done by hand - today its bought in ready made machine embroidered panels.

Whether its working in the fields or at the market you can always spot a Flower Hmong woman by her beautiful and vibrant coloured outfit.

In the past Hmong woman often turned their colourful skirts inside out to protect the garment when working in the fields. Today with most Flower Hmong opting to wear synthetic ready made skirts there's no longer the need to do this.