Short videos of foreign male tourists wearing traditional H’mong women’s skirts at tourist sites in Tuyen Quang Province have appeared widely on social media.
However, some tour operators defended the acts as light-hearted cultural engagement by foreign tourists, insisting there was no disrespect intended.
A foreign tourist dressed in traditional H'Mong attire (Photo taken from a video on social media)
According to Lo A Loi, a 29-year-old H’mong man working in the tourism sector in Sapa Town, the trend of foreign male tourists dressing in H’mong skirts for photos has emerged in recent months. Its growing popularity has raised mixed public backlash.
Loi called the misuse of traditional H’mong clothing a misguided act and urged the community to protect its cultural heritage.
“Those in the tourism industry should safeguard and honour cultural identity. Culture is not a source of entertainment; it should never be treated as a joke,” he added.
In response to the issue, Nguyen Thi Hoai, Deputy Director of the Tuyen Quang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, told Dantri/DTiNews on August 6 that the department has been working with concerned agencies to review the roles and responsibilities of involved parties to take appropriate corrective measures.
Videos showing male tourists wearing traditional H’mong women’s attire disrespectfully are culturally offensive and go against the province’s goal of promoting civilised and sustainable tourism, Hoai noted.
“We welcome visitors to explore ethnic cultural traditions, but hope they do so in a way that honours and respects cultural identity,” Hoai said.
The department will enhance public outreach and tighten oversight to ensure compliance with the tourism code of conduct, aiming to foster respectful behaviour and cultural awareness among both locals and visitors.
