Dong Van, Ha Giang Province - Vietnam. Market Hmong Ethnic Groups<br />
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The markets in North Vietnam offer great cultural diversity. Flower Hmong, White Hmong, Black Hmong, Thay, Thai or Dzao are selling their stuff on different days of the week. There are even backward markets, those markets are held every week one day back, so if this week’s market is scheduled for Sunday, next week the market will be on Saturday, then Friday…A row of ambulant barbers is placed on the sidewalk and take care of their customers while shoppers flock around in search of new trends, tribal clothes or just their weekly grocery. Most of those markets have one thing in common, ethnic teenagers are dressing up to attract the other gender, since the size of the small communes and distances in between makes it hard for them to find the “right one”. Nevertheless in most cases the parents choose the “right one”. There are cows, puppies or birds changing ownership. Some market ladies reminded me on witch doctors offering their alternative medicine such as indefinable roots, dried mushrooms, wood bark or certain parts of fluffy animals. There is 3-5 years old rice wine waiting in jerrycans for shoppers to try and buy. As a highlight for the fancy dressed White Hmong a lot stack of colorful cloth is waiting.