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Love comb

Explore #108 on Saturday, June 27, 2009

 

This is Hmong woman Chai. The hand made Aluminum comb she has is a traditional gift from a boyfriend or most often a husband. Now a days most women have the plastic variety combs that comes in all colors but you can still those traditional ones and normally they will not sell them.

 

The Black Hmong are the 3rd largest minority in Vietnam with nearly 900,000 people. In the Sapa region there are about 35,000 Black Hmong residing in the surrounding 17 villages and they account for about 50% of the area population. Most reside at an altitude of 1,600 – 1,700 meters above sea level in this stunningly beautiful region they call “the city above the clouds”. The Hmong started migrating to Vietnam from China in the last 300 years.

In this region about half the Hmong are Catholic and half animistic. They live of the land growing rice and corn and they all believe in the spirits.

 

See more Hmong portraits here

 

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Uploaded on June 27, 2009
Taken on May 12, 2008