Black Thai's costume

Nung communitiesare found today mainly in Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces, but they arealso settled in parts of Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Bac Can, ThaiNguyen and Ha Bac provinces. The traditional clothing of the Nungpeople for both sexes comprises a plain indigo vest and trousers oftendecorated with a coloured belt and won with a black turban covered by awhite or coloured scarf. However, there are a number of variations incostume. The Nung Ansub-ethnicity are settled exclusively in the region north east of CaoBang. Their distinctive costume is based on a plain black tunic andblack pantaloons. The tunic is buttoned at the right shoulder with thinbands of alternate blue/white and/or multicoloured embroidery at thecollar. At the cuffs there are bands of multicoloured blue at the frontand white with black patterns at the rear. Around the waist there isoften a belt made of white material with black patterns, similar tothat used on the cuffs. The ensemble is usually worn with a white oroccasionally blue headscarf, though on occasions a turban of whitematerial is wound around the head and a

Nung Phan Sinh's clothes

The Giayare quite widely spread and can be seen not only around Sapa but alsoin Lai Chau near Tam Duong and in the Dong Van and Yen Minh districtsof Ha Giang Province. The traditional woman's costume in Lao Cai andLai Chau Provinces consists of black trousers and a coloured shirt(light or dark pink, light or dark blue, green or white) decorated witha wide band of different coloured material which stretches around thecollar and down to a clasp under the right armpit. The ensemble isgenerally worn with the ubiquitous pattered headscarf seen everywhere.

The Lu area long established ethnicity of the Tay-Thai language group. Theirpopulation of just under 4,000 makes them the 40th largest group inVietnam. Their traditional black and silver coloured clothing is one ofthe most striking in northern Vietnam, featuring a distinctive blackscarf with a silver striped pattern and colourful tassels. The smilingwomen will also often show you a fine row of blackened teeth. They arenow mainly concentrated between Sin Ho and Binh Lu in Lai Chau province.

Pa Di woman

The Pa Di area sub-ethnicity of the Tay exclusively settled in the Muong KhuongDistrict of Lao Cai. They are instantly recognisable by theirdistinctive headgear which comprises a studded decorative headbandenclosed in a stiff pyramid shaped black hat. Like their Thu Laocousins, the Pa Di women also wear a black skirt, a black shirt whichbuttons under the right armpit and a black apron, but the shirt has ablue border and the shirt features blue and white rings at the lowersleeves and studded decorative patterns at the collar.

The Tayare the largest single ethnic minority in Vietnam numbering well over1,200,000. However, they are often difficult to spot because they dressvery similarly to modern Viet Kinh. They usually wear costumes with theblack trousers and shirt but with the shirt buttoned under the rightarmpit with rings of distinctive blue material here and at the lowersleeves.