Sapa Town and Tribal Groups

Sapa is a small mountain town in Lao Cai Province, which is located about 350 km Northwest of Hanoi, close to the Chinese border. It is famous with the Hoang Lien Son range of mountains, includes Fan Si Pan—the country's highest peak. Sapa town is home to the different ethnic tribal groups. There are four main ethnic groups in Sapa: the Hmong, Dao, Tay and Giay. It is said that Sapa was first occupied by the first four groups, since the Vietnamese from the lowlands (better known as the Kinh) did not colonise the highest valleys. Each of them has a fantastic history and magical culture that will surely attract your curlosity.

H’Mong ethnic minority: around 52% of the population. They has several H’mong subgroups, but the best known are Black Hmong, White Hmong, Green Hmong and Flower Hmong and they are identified by the way they dress. The Black Hmong tribe is dominant in Sapa. Hmong traditional clothing is made mainly of hemp and died in deep blue indigo color. Hmong women wrap their long hair and usually wear turbans.

Hmong Tribe

Red Dao tribe: around 25% of population. Red Dao women shave their heads and eyebrows. They wear a distinctive red triangular shaped turban, decorated with silver coins and red tassels. A square piece on there clothing symbolizes they are children of God.

Red Dao Tribe

Tay tribe: around 5% of population. Tay clothing is made of cotton and dyed with dark blue or indigo. Women of Tat ethnic group can be easily recognized by distinguished little decorated dark blue suit.

Tay Tribe

Giay tribe: around 2% of population. Like the Red Dao and Hmong tribes, the Giay society is also patriarchal. Same, they are animists and believe in nature and spirits.

Giay Tribe