Black Ha Nhi people in Lao Cai

In the northern mountain commune of Bat Xat of Lao Cai province, the Black Ha Nhi ethnic people live in 8 out of 16 villages, making up 54% of the commune’s population.

In the northern mountain commune of Bat Xat of Lao Cai province, the Black Ha Nhi ethnic people live in 8 out of 16 villages, making up 54% of the commune’s population.

Living at an altitude of 2,000m, Ha Nhi people build houses from mud and soil, with very thick walls to resist cold winter.

Ha Nhi people have developed the wet rice cultivation for a long time

Lao Chai village now has new houses roofed with corrugated fibre cement sheets

These old houses in pristine condition need preservation

Ha Nhi people cook inside the house which is always dark, except for two small roof holes for sunlight to get through

A thin wall separates the house into two parts, with the first for receiving guests, and the other for sleeping and cooking

For Ha Nhi women, wigs are used to not only beautify themselves but also keep them warm in chilly weather. They are also used as a pillow in the evening

A preschool in Choan Then, Y Ty commune

Village roads have been upgraded, giving the locality a facelift

All villages in the communes are now accessible to clean water