The Xa Pho people (also known as the Phu La people), is a minority group out of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. They live partly in Nam Keng village, Nam Sai Commune, Sa Pa District, Lao Cai Province. Though located only 30 km away from the South of Sa Pa town, this area is quite remote with low and dry land due to the lack of water, thus the life of people here is very hard. They only grow one rice crop a year with rotation of some dry-climate-like plants such as maize, potatoes, cassava and raise pigs, goats and chickens…to support their daily life.
Where to visit
You can visit the Xa Pho minority in My Son village.
History
The Xa Pho came to Vietnam about 200 – 300 years ago. Some believe that their clothes indicate they immigrated from the southern islands of Asia, such as Malaysia and Indonesia.
Language
Their language belongs to Tibeto – Burmese language group. Other minorities say that Xa Pho people can speak most of the other languages in the area, but it is “difficult to hear their language which sounds like birds singing”.
Costumes
The Xa Pho’s clothes are very different from other minorities. Women wear a short shirt with a long skirt made from indigo-dyed hemp fabric. They use a bright red thread to embroider decorations all over their clothes.
Social organization
The Xa Pho community is particularly strong and neighbours play an important role in their villages. If a family has no food, they can visit their neighbours for every meal. If both families have no food, they will go to another family together. When no one in the village has any food, they all go to find fruit and vegetables in the forest. When a family kills a chicken or a pig, everyone in the village can come to have some without an invitation.
They are semi-nomadic; they do grow dry rice, but most of the time they live on what nature has to offer. While other minorities may live together in villages, these timid people live in isolation. There is only one tribe who live in Sapa, and they have a very low living standard compared with other minorities in the same valley.
Birth
After a woman gives birth, strangers are prevented from coming into the house. The family either hang a hat on a pillar in front of their house, or use a blackened pillar with leafy branches attached called dum dum to warn people away. A name-giving ceremony is carried out 12 days later. Each person has two names – one is used in a normal situation, and other when worshiping the ancestors and being worshipped after death.
Marriage:
Young Xa Pho have the right to have sexual relationships before marriage. The Xa Pho has a very low population, so the man wants to make sure his partner can have children. The marriage will be organised after the young couple know the woman is pregnant. The future bride starts making her wedding dress while her groom prepares pigs, chicken and other food for the wedding.
Funeral:
The deceased is placed in the middle of the house, with the head in the direction of the household altar. Water used to wash the deceased’s face is left to evaporate. There must be a bowl of rice with a pair of chopsticks and a barbecued or roasted chicken next to the alter. The deceased’s children put straw around the wooden coffin, as they used to use straw as mattresses. The coffin is buried in a grave or a tomb. Lots of people must attend the funeral to ensure that the spirit of the dead doesn’t stay at the tomb or cemetery.
Housing:
The Xa Pho live in houses built half on stilts and half on the ground. Furniture is very simple and made of bamboo or rattan.
Artistic activities:
The Xa Pho dance for many occasions – marriage, funerals, births, even when they have run out of food. Their dancing style is very different to other minorities. Accompanied by a drum beat, they join hands and dance in a circle around a fire.
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