Things to remember when visiting ethnic minorities in Sapa

Knowing some taboos when interacting with ethnic minority people in Sapa will help you to have a great trip to Sapa.
Sapa is inhabited by many ethnic minorities such as Tay, Giay, Mong, Red Dao, Ha Nhi ... their lives always hide the mystery urge travelers to explore. However, each ethnic group has taboos, you should know to avoid them offended and have more interesting trips.

1. When you come to the village
On the way to the village of the Ha Nhi people in Sapa if you see a temporary gate, above which hang many wooden knives, wooden sword, the top of the chicken wings ... it is time in the village are doing the ceremony to evict evil. When the villagers specifically forbid strangers.
Each ethnic minority village in Lao Cai has banned forests, supernatural powers. Can be the big tree, big stone in the forest. The banned forest is the middle area is not automatically cut, arbitrarily do not or ...
2. When visiting the house
Before visiting the home of ethnic minorities you need to carefully observe whether the head of the house has green leaves, a branch or thorny eye shape ... that is the sign of abstinence, the family does not want to put strangers home.
Hanh Nhi people have two stairs, strangers should only enter the first door, if you want to enter the second door you must be the landlord's consent. Thai people have stairs, ladies only up the stairs have the right courtyard. In the home of the ethnic ancestral altar is the most sacred place, visitors are not allowed to sit back on the altar. In the Black Tai region, women are not allowed to sit at their ancestors. The fireplace is also an important place to have taboos, sitting next to the fire should not set fire or move the stone to move. In the Mong, Dao, Ha Nhi... When putting firewood into the kitchen, do not put the tops in front, because the fear of the daughter of the owner will back up. When sitting near the kitchen, do not turn back and stomping on the kitchen, do not use foot to push firewood into the kitchen, do not cook rice - rice (sticky rice) because ethnic people think this action will lead to crop failure.
3. Communication activities
Greeting: visitors to the home of the visiting, visitors should actively greet with a sincere attitude, sincere smile, and expression slightly inclined to friendly and clear distance.
When we break up we can shake hands, do not say goodbye, see you but always smile. Do not rub hands on the Mong people, Dao because in their minds the souls who dwell in the head, when the stranger touches the soul afraid to fly causing children or sick.
Eating and drinking: Every nation has its own rules for seating so it is important to know what to avoid. Especially when eating should not pick up chicken legs, chicken head before the host invited. Before the meal should be a persistent wait for the owner finished the ceremony. Guests do not pour wine before, do not take food before, after eating should not cup, bowl down to the tray.
When sleeping: do not lie along the rooftops, do not touch the white light, do not wake up too late, do not sleep under the altar ... Each house of ethnic minority in Lao Cai have sleeping rooms reserved for guests. , should follow the layout of the home, not lying feet to the altar. In some areas of Mong, Dao, Thai, La Ha, Resistance do not have the white screen in the house.