With a total of well over 1,000,000 the Thai
constitute the second largest ethnic minority in Vietnam. Of the two
groups, the Black Thai are concentrated in Son La and southern Lai Chau
Provinces while the White Thai are found predominantly in northern Lai
Chau and Lao Cai provinces. The traditional costume of the Thai
generally comprises a coloured blouse (often green, blue, pink or
purple) with a distinctive row of silver buttons down the front, a long
black skirt and usually an intricately embroidered and very distinctive
black headscarf as with the lady at the top from Thuan Chau.
With
a total population of over 700,000 the Nung constitute the seventh
largest ethnic minority group in Vietnam. Nung communities are found
today mainly in Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces, but they are also
settled in parts of Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Bac Can, Thai
Nguyen and Ha Bac provinces. The traditional clothing of the Nung
people for both sexes comprises a plain indigo vest and trousers often
decorated with a coloured belt and won with a black turban covered by a
white or coloured scarf. However there are a number of variations in
costume.
The Nung An
sub-ethnicity are settled exclusively in the region north east of Cao
Bang. Their distinctive costume is based on a plain black tunic and
black pantaloons. The tunic is buttoned at the right shoulder with thin
bands of alternate blue/white and/or multicoloured embroidery at the
collar. At the cuffs there are bands of multicoloured blue at the front
and white with black patterns at the rear. Around the waist there is
often a belt made of white material with black patterns, similar to
that used on the cuffs. The ensemble is usually worn with a white or
occasionally blue headscarf, though on occasions a turban of white
material is wound around the head and a blue scarf worn on top of it.
The Nung Phan Sinh
of Lang Son province are mainly settled in the Cao Loc region, east of
town. The costume consists of plain black trousers and a plain shirt
which buttons under the right armpit, both edged with thin bands of
white or floral material. a small white turban embroidered with
vertical black and white, or coloured stripes is also worn.
The Giay
(pronounced Zay) are quite widely spread and can be seen not only
around Sapa but also in Lai Chau near Tam Duong and in the Dong Van and
Yen Minh districts of Ha Giang Province. There are currently 40,000
Giay in Vietnam making them the 25th largest ethic minority grouping.
The traditional woman's costume in Lao Cai and Lai Chau Provinces
consists of black trousers and a coloured shirt (light or dark pink,
light or dark blue, green or white) decorated with a wide band of
different coloured material which stretches around the collar and down
to a clasp under the right armpit. The ensemble is generally worn with
the ubiquitous pattered headscarf seen everywhere.
The Lu are
a long established ethnicity of the Tay-Thai language group. Their
population of just under 4,000 makes them the 40th largest group in
Vietnam. Their traditional black and silver coloured clothing is one of
the most striking in northern Vietnam, featuring a distinctive black
scarf with a silver striped pattern and colourful tassels. The smiling
women will also often show you a fine row of blackened teeth. They are
now mainly concentrated between Sin Ho and Binh Lu in Lai Chau province.
Tu Di
are one of two groups of the Bo Y ethnic minority. The other group -
the Bo Y themselves, are settled in the Quan Ba District of Ha Giang
Province. With a combined population of 1,500 people the Bo Y - Tu Di
are currently ranked 46th of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. The Tu Di
women of Muong Khuong have adopted a style of dress similar to their
Phi La neighbours and now wear black trousers and a shirt of black and
blue material with a distinctive front panel, decorated with pieces of
coloured material, patches of embroidery and silver chains: the shirt
buttons under the right armpit and has concentric rings of coloured
material around the upper sleeves and cuffs. The hair is tied in a
chignon at the top of the head and covered by a black turban and
embroidery.
The Pa Di are
a sub-ethnicity of the Tay exclusively settled in the Muong Khuong
District of Lao Cai. They are instantly recognisable by their
distinctive headgear which comprises a studded decorative headband
enclosed in a stiff pyramid shaped black hat. Like their Thu Lao
cousins, the Pa Di women also wear a black skirt, a black shirt which
buttons under the right armpit and a black apron, but the shirt has a
blue border and the shirt features blue and white rings at the lower
sleeves and studded decorative patterns at the collar.
The Tay
are the largest single ethnic minority in Vietnam numbering well over
1,200,000. However they are often difficult to spot because they dress
very similarly to modern Viet Kinh. However a number wear costumes
similar to the lady above with the black trousers and shirt but with
the shirt buttoned under the right armpit with rings of distinctive
blue material here and at the lower sleeves.
