I saw this impressive piece covered in sihos (mythical lion-elephant creatures) pregnant with double-headed nagas (protective river serpents) and carrying their young and a frogman (or perhaps an ancestor spirit) on their backs at Phaeng Mai Gallery in Vientiane. Continue reading
Laos is home to a large number of ethnic groups, many of whom still wear all or part of their colourful traditional dress, especially for festivals or weddings.
Although the Hanoi Museum of Ethnology is very informative, I enjoyed the Costume exhibit at the Women’s Museum even more. Continue reading
Reaching the playing fields in Sam Tai town, I realised this was a Hmong town, as the New Year courting game was in full swing. Continue reading
This woman was waiting at the Boun Neuea bus station. Below are the lovely family I had just stayed with on my trek, whose village is only accessible by moto in the dry season, otherwise by horse or foot. Continue reading
Snapped from the bus en route Nongkiaw to Vieng Thong: Hmong New Year courting ball game. Continue reading
Many of the Red Dzao women at the Muang Hum market were wearing a full complement of hand-stitched clothing and silver accessories. Continue reading
I came across this girl creating a Flowery Hmong collar while trekking near Bac Ha. Next to her she had a basket of thin rick-rack and cords, Continue reading
The Can Cau market is held every Saturday in a rural setting on a hillside. To my untrained Western eyes, the women all seemed to be wearing identical outfits, and shopping for more of the same. Continue reading
Unlike the markets in Can Cau & Bac Ha, where the women could buy the components of their dress ready-made, at Muang Hum only the fabrics, ribbons, braids, threads & beads were being sold, so the women were making their own outfits. Continue reading
