On last Fathers' Day, we decided to leave Sa-Pa District (34km West of Lao Cai provincial town) to visit Bac-Ha District, 110km East of Lao Cai.
Bac-Ha is famous with its Sunday Market where the Dzay minorities people gather once a week to trade their belongs. When this event happens on a regular basis, rain or sunshine, to photograph these people at work on their terraced field is difficult, since such activities depend on cultivation and harvest time.
Fortunately, we were able to spot some in traditional clothes over the muddy paths. In the coming days, I am going to share with you some shots, both at the field and at the Sunday Market.
Having them being posted here, I am looking toward your comments, critique and suggestions (tell me what you expect to see but I missed!). Hopefully I will be well armed with your inputs when I return to this lovely destination.
Thank you Ngythanh, very interesting. After reading into your photo, I would take it that the young lady looking into the camera with the loose turbin is single and the working lady with the "tide down" turbin is taken. Thank you for remembering me, I appreciate everthing you have shared. Carla
Today, I came across some info about their traditional colorful costume and I would like to keep you updated as promised.
*** Sa Pa is home to a walking market, mainly at weekends but also part of daily life in this remote mountainous village in the north of Vietnam near the Chinese border. Most of the goods on sale are being worn daily by the ethnic tribes people, in their fields and in their poor huts and then proudly on display for the foreigners who come at weekends. Their clothes are an art form. Black tunics with blue lining, colored aprons worn reversed, braid trimmed jackets, rich embroidered vests, wrap around leggings, extraordinary head gear. Bright red turbans are folded one way when the woman is single and then another when the man has been ?got?, black caps perched high and held through plaits. And the hair color: some of it a reddish blonde, others brownish auburn. None of them have the black ebony hair of the rest of Vietnam?s women.
My knowledge about these minority people is very limited, and these photos [ http://www.usefilm.com/browse.php?mode=portfolio&portfolio_id=10793 ] were taken during my fiest trip.
I will try to search then feedback to you. But it maynot be soon. If I fail in the online search, please let me try again on the second visit: we are attempting to return there during their celebration of first full-moon of lunar calendar year of the Rooster (February 23, 2005). If we will be able to come, then I will take more info home, and reply to you again.
Ngythanh, great cultural industrial shot. Your photo provides a feel for the way of life in other regions, which is greatly appreciated. Is there any significance to the woman wearing the same color tops and skirts? It appears to be a very bright hot day, yet the women are wearing black tops. Please tell us more if you know.
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