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photographie-irie > Gas Station, Hmong Style, Coc Ly, Vietnam      Horses and one's own feet are still used to get around in most cases, but if you have a motorbike, you need gas. These ladies provide. Typical gas stations are available on the open road in and around cities in Vietnam, but a good deal of petrol is sold across developing economies from bottles such as these, especially in hinterlands like this where there's no prospect for a real gas station. Regular or ethyl?
photographie-irie > Black Hmong Women Hauling Bamboo, Sapa, Vietnam      In character, two of three Black Hmong ladies smiling for no one but themselves as they carry some bamboo up this steep Sapa street. I can't say the third isn't smiling inside, though, because that was their pleasant nature. Walking long distances with big loads was everyday stuff for both men and women. You would pass Hmong walking most everywhere you went, coming and going along the roads in the woods away from the city . That is where they live, coming into Sapa town or going to market for commerce and socializing.
photographie-irie > Flower Hmong Woman, Sapa, Vietnam      The Flower Hmong arguably are the most colorful of Hmong tribes seen in Vietnam. Colorful embroidered calf length skirts combine with a highly embroidered brightly colored jackets clasped under the right shoulder. Headgear here appears to be a combination of cheap chinese scarf and non-traditional hat, nothing defining in terms of ethnicity. More cheap Chinese scarves appear to be creeping into tribal fashion, especially popular being a gingham pattern. Non-traditional clothing also is infiltrating into their normal costumes, with western style clothing not surprising to find mixed in among the more colorful tradional garb.
photographie-irie > Red Dao Women at Market, Sapa, Vietnam       Ethnic tribal peoples can be found across Southeast Asia, including the Hmong and Dao that dominate Sapa area tribes and constitute 1-2% of the country's population. Vietnam defines 54 ethnic minorities. Eight of the 54 live in the northern district of Sapa. Because most of these peoples who migrated from Southwest China long ago live off of the land in mountainous terrain, the occupying French called all the mountain tribes Montagnards, or mountain people. But there are in fact many very distinct tribal groups with unique custom and language. Not even all Hmong or Dao are of the same tribe; rather, there are many different varieties of each that then vary even further for what particular region they are from. They are very proud of their heritage that makes them rightfully distinct from each other, and even more different from being Vietnamese. The government of Vietnam takes an balanced approach of integrating all tribes conceptually as part of a proud and unified Vietnam while at the same time trying to respect their strongly persistent unique cultures. These minority tribes tend to be very hard working and sociable, although wary in more isolated areas of alien looking strangers. Some tribes specialize in raising animals, others in farming herbs, often for herbal medicines. But they excel in textile arts with fabrics and embroidery, which define their culture and heritage, as well as jewelry and similar adornments. It is fitting then that the tribes differentiate themselves from one another in the very elaborate and often colorful way they dress and adorn their bodies. There are so many variations that I need to spend more time on my next project exploring this fascinating ethnology. But I shall share what I think I know now. I appreciate any correction or elaboration anyone may care to offer. And to my gracious subjects, please accept my apologies should I be in error in any way. I will be back to to learn more. These two beautiful women shopping at the market in Sapa are Red Dao (or Dzao). More frequently their red headress is more of a triangular affair than these turban like shapes which makes them so interesting. Red Dao women tend to shave their eyebrow and forehead, adorn their headgear and body with silver coin and jewelry that identifies their financial status, and have gold covered teeth to indicate if they are married.
photographie-irie > Older Hmong Woman at Work, Sapa, Vietnam      At the market in Sapa, this older woman, probably Black Hmong, appears to be wearing a non-traditional pants suits as she works her yarn in preparation for embroidery. More colorful tradtional clothing behind and on the right is for sale, as are purses like the one in the lower right.
photographie-irie > Ladies Relaxing at Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam       Two of many ladies wearing classic Vietnamese bamboo cone hats around Hoan Kiem Lake in the early morning, even as others are exercising away. The lake area is popular for local socializing, and focal point for many city activities.
photographie-irie > Tai Chi along Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam       As in my experience throughout Asia, mass group outdoor activities are extremely popular among young and old, including martial arts, dance, jazzercize, and sports. All manner of similar individual pursuits are actively supported and encouraged to maintain health of spirit, mind and body. Hoan Kiem Lake is a wonderful park in the historical center of Hanoi, and forms a cultural centerpiece as well. The Lake lies just below the convoluted series of small streets known as Old Town, and together these two areas are among Hanoi's visitor favorites. Plan on spending a lot of time here, and try to catch the water puppet show at an auditoreum on the east side of the lake.
photographie-irie > Ducks from Market, Hoi An, Vietnam       These ducks may have seen their better days as this local woman takes them home, or to her restaurant from the morning market. Were she the duck rancher, she could have let them go and they would have followed wherever she went, even into the pot were she to go there, as a result of animal imprinting. I didn't see any tourists or travelers buying or transporting ducks in this manner, but rather only the cooked variety in local restaurants.
photographie-irie > Cone Hat Lady, Hoi An, Vietnam Another lady with cone hat to shield the sun and cool the head. I had one given to me and can testify that they really work well while being quite light and comfortable. Important to carefully coordinate the chin sash for proper visual effect. As much as I appreciate them, though (and seem obsessed with photographing them and their owners) I had to give mine up as they do prove quite cumberwsome when trying to travel light in tight spaces among all the other gear carried while trying to travel light.
Gas Station, Hmong Style, Coc Ly, Vietnam     

Horses and one's own feet are still used to get around in most cases, but if you have a motorbike, you need gas. These ladies provide. Typical gas stations are available on the open road in and around cities in Vietnam, but a good deal of petrol is sold across developing economies from bottles such as these, especially in hinterlands like this where there's no prospect for a real gas station. Regular or ethyl?
photographie-irie > Gas Station, Hmong Style, Coc Ly, Vietnam      Horses and one's own feet are still used to get around in most cases, but if you have a motorbike, you need gas. These ladies provide. Typical gas stations are available on the open road in and around cities in Vietnam, but a good deal of petrol is sold across developing economies from bottles such as these, especially in hinterlands like this where there's no prospect for a real gas station. Regular or ethyl?
Gas Station, Hmong Style, Coc Ly, Vietnam     

Horses and one's own feet are still used to get around in most cases, but if you have a motorbike, you need gas. These ladies provide. Typical gas stations are available on the open road in and around cities in Vietnam, but a good deal of petrol is sold across developing economies from bottles such as these, especially in hinterlands like this where there's no prospect for a real gas station. Regular or ethyl?
See photo in original gallery.
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