ETHNIC MINORITIES IN SAPA

Traditional custume of ethnic minorities in Sapa.
Hmong people’s costume

Among ethnic minorities in Sapa, Hmong people make up the most significant number of people. The costumes of Hmong people are easy to distinguish from the costumes of other ethnic minorities in Sapa. Men often wear black or dark blue pants, short-sleeved blouses, and black or brocade embroidered hats. Whereas, Hmong women’s clothes have more sophisticated designs. Patterns embroidered on clothes are usually geometric patterns such as spirals, diamonds, squares, and rectangles. In terms of color, it is also quite diverse with many combinations of colors such as blue, black, yellow, and red. Hmong women do not wear skirts but wear knee-length shorts instead!

Red Dao people’s costume

Red Dao people also account for the majority of the population of ethnic minorities in Sapa. You can recognize the Red Dao people through their clothes with red as the highlight color.
 

A complete traditional costume includes a scarf, hat, shirt, pants, belt, and shin guard (xa cap). The sleeves, collar, and back patterns are meticulously embroidered with red, yellow, and white thread. These patterns include pine trees, tiger footprints, serrated shapes, etc. They are harmoniously and beautifully combined, highlighting the whole costume. 

Tay people’s costume

Compared to the costumes of other ethnic minorities in Sapa, Tay people's outfits are plainer. Both men and women wear dark blue shirts with round collars, two pockets at the front sleeves, and a wide cloth belt wrapped around the waist.

Giay people’s costume

Giay is also an ethnic minority in Sapa that has simple costumes. They are less embroidered and only have colored fabrics around the collar and bodice.

Xa Pho people’s costume

Xa Pho people’s costumes are not only highly durable but also gorgeous. The shirt and skirt are made of cotton fabrics with different patterns and colors. The designs are simple but have Xa Pho people’s cultural value, including hills, pine trees, water flows, etc. 

Traditional craft of ethnic minorities in Sapa.
Sapa has many traditional crafts preserved and developed by indigenous people from generation to generation. Below are some exciting traditional crafts of ethnic minorities in Sapa.

Brocade weaving

Brocade weaving is a craft of almost ethnic minorities in Sapa, from Dao, and Hmong to Tay. Until now, brocade products not only serve the daily living needs of local people, but they are also unique gifts reminding of Sapa. 
 

You can drop in Lao Chai, Ta Van, Cat Cat, and Ta Phin Village to learn about the brocade weaving process. A sophisticated brocade product must go through many stages, requiring meticulousness, from peeling flax bark to stripping flax, plaiting yarn, weaving, embroidering patterns, dyeing indigo, etc. 

Silver carving

Silver carving is also among the crafts of some ethnic minorities in Sapa. This craft requires skill, meticulousness, and experience passed down through generations. 

There are many stages to having a carved silver product, from preparing tools to silver carving, including furnace, the crucible, mold, hammer, iron pliers, etc. Silver products are diverse and rich in design, from bracelets, necklaces, and rings, to pins, chains, etc. Each type of jewelry has different shapes and textures. 

Brocade embroidery

Besides brocade weaving and silver carving, brocade embroidery is also popular among ethnic minorities in Sapa, especially for the Red Dao and Xa Pho people. For ethnic women, brocade embroidery is indispensable for serving themselves and their families. Ethnic girls learn embroidery since they are in primary or secondary school, from embroidery techniques to ways to select silk thread, select fabric, and color mixing techniques. 

Indigo dyeing and batik drawing

Visiting Sapa, you can easily catch up with black indigo clothes. Indigo dyeing, passed from generation to generation, is the symbol and the soul of the Tay and Hmong ethnic minorities in Sapa. Together with indigo dying, Batik drawing is also popular. Indigo dyeing helps the Batik patterns to be durable. Batik art uses beeswax to draw on the fabric before the fabric is boiled, beeswax is melted, and vibrant and sophisticated patterns are revealed.

Bamboo and rattan weaving

Hmong and Tay people in Sapa use familiar materials like bamboo and rattan to make products and daily necessities. Under the skillful hands of craftsmen, these products are durable, beautiful, and suitable to use in daily life, such as bamboo baskets, sedge baskets, bamboo bags, rattan trays, paper boxes, jewelry boxes, flowers vases, etc.

Now, it’s time for you to travel and learn the crafts of ethnic minorities in Sapa!


Traditional culture festival of ethnic minorities in Sapa.

If you travel to Sapa during the festival time, you will have a chance to learn more detailed information about ethnic minorities in Sapa. Below are some traditional cultural festivals in Sapa you should refer to. 

Hmong people’s Gau Tao Festival

Gau Tao Festival is a famous festival for the Hmong people. On the first day of the Tet holiday, it is held to pray for health, prosperity, good fortune, and a new year with bountiful crops. This festival is also the opportunity for the ethnic Hmong people to reunite with family after a long time of working far from home. At the Gau Tao Festival, you can see many attractive folk games of the ethnic minorities in Sapa, such as horse fighting, crossbow shooting, flute dancing, cock fighting, etc. 

Red Dao people’s Tet Nhay Festival

Red Dao people's Tet Nhay Festival is held on the first and second day of the Tet holiday annually. Before the festival, the boys in the village will gather to practice dancing. Whereas, girls embroider new shirts, prepare the most beautiful outfits for the biggest celebration of the year. After completing the rituals, Red Dao people will sing, dance, drink and chat together in the bustling, warm and close atmosphere.

Xa Pho people’s Village sweeping rite 

The sweeping village rite of Xa Pho people in Sapa is held in the February of the lunar calendar. Local people hold it to drive away bad luck and wish for a peaceful new year, good crops, and livestock. After the ceremony, people in the village organize many games and parties until midnight. Thanks to its unique characteristics, Xa Pho people’s Village sweeping rite is indeed one of the featured festivals of ethnic minorities in Sapa you should join. 

In conclusion, you have just learned some information about ethnic minorities in Sapa. Let’s come here and experience yourself the Sapa ethnic people’s culture!

III. Frequently Asked Questions About Sapa

1. Which Experiences Are Best For Tours In Sapa?

   These experiences are best for tours in Sapa:
   CLASSIC SAPA (3DAYS/2NIGHTS)
   SAPA TREKKING TOUR (4 DAYS/5 NIGHTS)

2. What Are The Best Places Plus With Tours In Sapa?

   These places are best for tours in :
   ESSENTIAL HA LONG AND SAPA (7DAYS)
   MU CANG CHAI-SAPA TOURS (3DAYS)
   SAPA-BAC HA MARKET TOUR (4DAYS)

3. Which Place Is Must See In Sapa?

   These places must see in Sapa:
   1: TAVAN VILLAGE
   2: CAT CAT VILLAGE
   3: BAC HA SUNDAY MARKET
   4: TA PHIN VILLAGE