Living in the mountainous and isolated areas of Ha Giang, the Pa Then is one of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. They speak a language in the Hmong–Mien language family, which is also called the Pa-Hng language.
Pa Then ethnic people used to live either on stilts houses or in semi-stilt houses. Agriculture plays an important role in their life. They live on cultivating swidden fields, using the digging stick to make holes for seedlings planted into the cleared, burnt fields. Both poultry and farm animals are raised for religious activities.
The costume of Pa Then women including a long skirt and shirt is very colorful and contains special decorative motifs that are similar to those on clothing worn by the Dao people.
Fire Jumping is the most impressive feast of the Pa Then that happens from the middle of lunar October to the lunar year-end day to express their thanks to the gods and pray for a bumper crop in the coming year.
The well- known French photographer Sébastien Laval opened his exhibition of ethnic groups of Pa Then and Dzao in Paris in this July as a part of activities to commemorate the France –Vietnam relationship. For further information, please visit his blog: http://blog.sebastienlaval-asie.org/
If you can’t visit this exhibition then ASIA AVENTURA, a leading of adventure tour operator in Vietnam is willing to offer you our exclusive trekking tour to visit Pa Then people. Please get more information at this: http://www.asia-aventura.com/en/tourdetail/trekking-in-ha-giang-1-4.html or send email to us: info@asia-aventura.com
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