Hmong Culture
Published on Nov 18, 2015
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Life in the Jungle
Living in the jungle was very hard for families. Families hid in the jungle for years, most hoped to return to their farms and villages. While living in the jungle most Hmong died of starvation, but there was no other place to go, if communist soldiers caught them they would keep them as prisoners or worse.
Photo by angela7dreams
The War Ends
After fighting for years the U.S. Lost the war. Soon after in 1975 the U.S. withdrew from Vietnam and Laos. Leaving behind a secret army of Hmong soldiers. Right after the U.S. Left the communist soldiers took over over Laos and South Vietnam. The Hmong who fought against them were now in danger.
Photo by Adelaide Archivist
The Killing Continues
When the communist soldiers found the secret army they killed the members and their families. The communists soldiers would bomb their villages and burn them with napalm. The Hmong who did surrender to the communist were treated like slaves. Many Hmong tried to find freedom in a new land by leaving Laos.
Photo by pirateparrot
Crossing the Mekong River
To get out of Laos many Hmong went across the Mekong river. Across the river was Thailand to get to the river many families had to walk for days.There was no bridge some Hmong had boats but most tried to swim across the waters. It could be more than 3 hours to cross.
Photo by unci_narynin
Death On the Water
On the other side of the Mekong river communist soldiers kept watch and shot anyone they saw. Most of the time dead bodies would float down the river.
Photo by sersen
The Refugee Camps
Many Hmong left for Thailand and were placed in refugee camps.Ban Vinai was was a better camp than most. This was because it had a school, clinic, market, lake, and soccer feild. And refugees could learn English and work on farms.
Photo by manhhai
Living Conditions
Many refugees lived in bamboo barracks. The barracks were made with straw roofs and had dirt floors. Most of the time 10 families lived in these barracks at one time.Some families living in the barracks could have a small garden. But they had to depend on the camp to give them food.
Photo by bbcworldservice
Family Is Important
While in the camps the Hmong tried to follow their traditions and customs. When they could the Hmong lived in their clans or groups.
Photo by joaquinuy
The Hmong Clans
The common clans from Laos were the green Hmong and the armband Hmong. In Vietnam the main clans were the wight Hmong, blue Hmong, black Hmong, and flower Hmong. When ever the Hmong could the would wear hand woven clothing but most refugees had to wear what they had.
Photo by h e r v e
No Written Language
The Hmong wanted to record what had happened to them in jungles and in the refugee camps but they had no written language. Some legends say that in China had a written language but I was lost over time. After some western missionaries tried to creat an alphabet but years later know one knew what they meant.
Photo by Graela
The Story Cloths
Since the Hmong had no written language they recorded their history on story cloths.The Hmong used story cloths to show their history. Hmong women had always been good at sewing and would embroider their experiences on cloth. The story cloths helped trace the Hmong history. Some relief workers from other nations bought these cloths and sent them to their countries. And some were brought to the U.S. The story cloths shared their history with others and by selling them earned them money. Making these story cloths helped pass time as they waited to leave the camps and hopefully go to America.
Photo by national museum of american history
Questions
How did he Hmong get across the Mekong river?
They used bamboo or banana leafs to float across the river.
How did the Hmong cook while in the jungle?
The Hmong women would cook in the early morning so the smoke would evaporate before the soldiers noticed it.
Photo by Leo Reynolds
