Yao People in Vietnam

Yao people are one of 54 ethnics in Vietnam. In 2009, there are total of estimated 751.067 Yao people in Vietnam, ranking second after China. They usually live along the border of Vietnam-China and Vietnam-Lao, provinces of Midland and Northern Coast of Vietnam, namely Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Quang Ninh, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, LaiChau, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Son La, Hoa Binh and Phu Tho.

Photo : hanoitv.vn

Yao has a long history of culture and wide range of folk knowledge, especially in traditionally medicine. They do not have their own writing system, but use the Han writing system which was modified and called Nôm-Dao.

When a tourist comes to Yao’s house, he would probably be invited to eat boiled meat or dried, sourly marinated meat and bamboo soup. There is also a custom to be noticed: try to avoid placing the chopsticks across the bowl because it’s a sign of death in the house. Their popular drink is distilled liquor; in a few place they prefer “hoẵng” – non-distilled liquor that has sour and less spicy flavor.

Photo : nld.com.vn

Yao’s costume is colorful and diverse with long bra, skirt or indigo clothes with a head scarf. They remain using traditional decorating patterns and embroider them based entirely on their memory, not from pre-sketched ones. The patterns are also very too because they are embroidered on the left side of the fabric in order to float on the surface.

If lucky, a tourist can witness Yao’s singular wedding customs such as repartee singing, fortune telling on chicken’s legs or carrying the bridge out of her house before stepping through the sacred scissors to walk into the groom’s house.

All those extraordinary culture, customs, costumes and food make the extraordinary Yao.