The uniqueness in Sapa ethnic people’s costumes


Usually, tourists have a Sapa tour to feel the quietly hidden beauty and wonders of the town in the clouds. But another charm of Sapa that attracts a lot of visitors is the traditional costumes of the ethnic people in Sapa homestay tours. Each of the ethnic group has a different type of costume that creates a unique identity of Sapa people.

Sapa is the home to many ethnic groups of the Highland, mainly H’Mong people, Red Dao people, Tay people, Giay people, Xa Pho people and so many more. The unique costume of all the ethnic groups has created a lively colorful picture for this land.


Different ethnic groups in Sapa

For the local people here, the traditional costumes are much more important than their own houses. A long time ago, brocade weaving occupation was first formed to meet the clothing needs of the family members. Later in its development, this occupation became the main income for the whole family.

The girls here knew how to weave at a very young age, even before they can read or write. With each of the traditional costume showing the ingenuity and meticulousness of the makers. Every time on special occasions such as New Year, early spring festivals or wedding, everybody will dress up the most beautiful clothes, creating an atmosphere full of colors here.

Unique features of the H’Mong’s traditional costumes in Sapa

Accounting for about 53% of the population, the H’Mong people is the most populous. Not only are they crowded in population, but the H’Mong people also converge many unique cultural features of Sapa in their costumes, cultural lifestyle, and preserve many traditional festivals such as fire jumping, Tet dance, or wife robbing.

The traditional clothes of the H’Mong ethnic groups are mainly sewn with self-woven linen cloths, with special shapes, elaborate ornamentation, and delicate patterns related to nature. The clothes of H’Mong ethnic people in Sapa are considered to be extremely unique among other H’Mong ethnic groups in Vietnam and other ethnic groups in Sapa homestay tours.


Traditional costumes of the H’Mong

For a men’s shirt, there are two types, including four-part and five-part. The four-part shirts have two uppers and two lower pockets. For the five-part shirts, the right armpit must belong split over the butt. Whereas, the pants’ legs are quite wide compared with the clothes of other ethnic groups. Besides, men usually wear a scarf on their heads, and an optional silver necklace, depending on the specificity of each occasion or their personal hobby.

The traditional costumes of Sapa of H’Mong women are more diversely and sophisticatedly designed. These include skirts, chest-tops, belts, leggings, and a cloth in front of the skirt. Patterns embroidered on the dress are usually geometric patterns such as spiral, diamond, square, and cross. The colors are also quite diverse with the combinations of many popular colors such as green, black, yellow and red.

Besides, jewelry is the indispensable accessories. Jewelry includes rings, bracelets, necklaces, anklets, earrings, rings and a high mass scarf on their heads.

The splendid beauty in the costumes of the Red Dao

It would be a great mistake if you ignore the traditional clothes of the Red Dao during a Sapa culture tour. A complete outfit includes shirt, pants, belt, wrapped skirt and scarf on the head while the colors are mixed with 5 basic colors.


Traditional costumes of the Red Dao

The patterns on the sleeves, neck, chest, back of the Red Dao women are especially paid attention to. They are often embroidered with only red, yellow, and white strings in order to stand out. In particular, the pants are also embroidered with meticulous and distinctive techniques. The upper part of the pants is usually black with nothing special but the lower part is decorated with beautiful patterns that create a harmonious balance for the entire Red Dao’s dress.

Besides, when it comes to Sapa ethnic groups’ costumes, tourists cannot miss the headscarf. The colorful red wrapped scarves embroidered with many floral patterns, the tiger footprints along with the tassels make the women more charming when moving or dancing.

The traditional costumes of Sapa ethnic groups such as the H’Mong, Red Dao, Giay, Tay have diverse designs, colorful patterns like Sapa embroidery, Sapa silk, which has contributed to creating a more diverse and colorful Sapa painting to attract the curiosity of each visitor in any tour to Sapa. Besides, it also helps to preserve the unique traditional culture to the people of Vietnam.

Learn more:

Author Since: Jan 23, 2019

Related Post