Kevin Rheese
Streets of SaPa, Vietnam
Red Dao street portrait.
"The origin of the Red Dao, pronounced Red Yao, is not clear. They originally came from China. They are one of the 54 ethnic groups that are officially recognized in Vietnam. In the last census taken in the year 2000, there were found to be ... approximately 470,000 in Vietnam. .. Their writing utilizes Chinese characters...
These people still wear their tradition[al] ethnic costumes and live lives unchanged little, for centuries. Both men and the women generally cover their heads with black or red scarves. The women will sometimes substitute this scarf for a turban. The traditional dress of the women is a brightly colored blouse worn over long trousers. The blouse is an intricately embroidered affair, which is normally decorated with silver. Both men and women wear their hair in a similar way; long on top, with the rest cleanly shaved. In addition, most women will also shave their eyebrows.
The Red Dao practice their own form of Taoism. They [also] still practice all the traditional customs connected to their tribe. Among these is their practice of arranged marriage.
The Red Dao practice and are experts in the field of herbal medicine. They use many treatments especially medicinal baths and know which plants from the forest to use to treat many illnesses."
- this edited extract from "trekkingsapa.com" on 1 June 2021.
I have also seen references to the Red Dao as the "Children of God", but I have been unable to pin that down or source its origins.
Streets of SaPa, Vietnam
Red Dao street portrait.
"The origin of the Red Dao, pronounced Red Yao, is not clear. They originally came from China. They are one of the 54 ethnic groups that are officially recognized in Vietnam. In the last census taken in the year 2000, there were found to be ... approximately 470,000 in Vietnam. .. Their writing utilizes Chinese characters...
These people still wear their tradition[al] ethnic costumes and live lives unchanged little, for centuries. Both men and the women generally cover their heads with black or red scarves. The women will sometimes substitute this scarf for a turban. The traditional dress of the women is a brightly colored blouse worn over long trousers. The blouse is an intricately embroidered affair, which is normally decorated with silver. Both men and women wear their hair in a similar way; long on top, with the rest cleanly shaved. In addition, most women will also shave their eyebrows.
The Red Dao practice their own form of Taoism. They [also] still practice all the traditional customs connected to their tribe. Among these is their practice of arranged marriage.
The Red Dao practice and are experts in the field of herbal medicine. They use many treatments especially medicinal baths and know which plants from the forest to use to treat many illnesses."
- this edited extract from "trekkingsapa.com" on 1 June 2021.
I have also seen references to the Red Dao as the "Children of God", but I have been unable to pin that down or source its origins.