People & Culture - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 1016

LIFE AMONG THE MINORITIES
One of the highlights of a visit to the Mekong region is an encounter with one of the many ethnic
minority groups inhabiting the mountains. Many wear incredible costumes, and so elaborate are some
of these that it's easy to believe minority girls learn to embroider before they can walk.
While some of these minorities number as many as a million people, it is feared that other groups
have dwindled to as few as 100. The areas inhabited by each group are often delineated by altitude,
with more recent arrivals settling at a higher altitude. Each hill tribe has its own language, customs,
mode of dress and spiritual beliefs. Some groups are caught between medieval and modern worlds,
while others have assimilated into modern life.
Most groups share a rural, agricultural lifestyle which revolves around traditional rituals. Most hill-
tribe communities are seminomadic, cultivating crops such as rice and using slash-and-burn methods,
which have taken a toll on the environment. Hill tribes have among the lowest standards of living in
the region and lack access to education, health care and even minimum-wage jobs. While there may
be no official discrimination system, cultural prejudice against hill-tribe people ensures they remain at
the bottom of the ladder. Put simply, life is a struggle for most minority people.
Tourism can bring many benefits to highland communities: cross-cultural understanding, improved
infrastructure, cheaper market goods, employment opportunities and tourist dollars supporting handi-
craft industries. However, there are also negatives, such as increased litter and pollutants, dependency
on tourist dollars, and the erosion of local values and practices. Here are some tips on having a posit-
ive effect when visiting minority communities:
» Where possible, hire indigenous guides - they understand taboos and traditions that might be lost on
lowland guides.
» Always ask permission before taking photos of tribespeople.
» Don't show up for 15 minutes and expect to be granted permission to take photos - invest some
time in getting to know the villagers first.
» Don't touch totems or sacred items hanging from trees.
» Avoid cultivating a tradition of begging, especially among children.
» Avoid public nudity and don't undress near an open window.
» Don't flirt with members of the opposite sex.
» Taste traditional wine if you are offered it, especially during a ceremony.
» Dress modestly.
» Don't buy village treasures, such as altar pieces or totems.