FROM THE JUNGLE TO CAMPS!

LIFE IN THE JUNGLE

• Jungle life was hard and food was limited.
• Many Hmong died of starvation.
• Many Hmong Families hid in the dark jungle for many years

AFTER THE WAR

• When the US troops left they left a secret Hmong army.
• After the US left the Vietnam army took over south Vietnam.

THE KILLING CONTINUES

• With no US troops to protect them, they and their families died.
• Some Hmong surrendered to the communist but most of them decided to
• leave Laos.

CROSSING THE MEKONG RIVER

• Many Hmong families walk for day to reach the river.
• When the families arrived at the river there was no bridge.

DEATH IN THE WATER

• The communist soldiers are watching the Mekong River
• The Hmong people that cross successfully are lucky

THE REFUGEE CAMPS

• Hundreds of Hmong came to refugee camps from 1975-1990.
• People to day wonder how many people tried to escape.
• The united nations operated one of the biggest camps called Ban Vinai.
• This camp had a hospital,school, and market so it was better than most camps

Living Conditions.
They lived in rows of barracks and as many as 10 family's lived in the huts.
200 people shared a bathroom.
Very few people had space to farm.

When the Hmong were in the camps their family was important. As best as they could they tried to follow their religion.

HMONG CLANS

• There are a lot of Hmong clans.
• When ever they coult they wore there clan bands.

Some people think that back when the Hmong lived in northern China.
Most Hmong wanted to record their experiences in the jungle and war.
The Hmong didn't have a way of recording.

Many Hmong women had beautiful craftwork when the Relief workers came there and bought some of the cloths.
The story cloths helped them preserve their history and the money helped them with food and plane tickets.