The Dao people, an ethnic minority in Vietnam, live at an altitude of 1,500 meters in the northern part of the country. Because they love to wear blue dresses on weekdays, people used to call them "Blue People"; and because of the high terrain where they live, others call them "Residents of the Clouds". The people in the clouds were also called "the inhabitants of the clouds". The area where the Dao people live is not far from the China-Vietnam border. People from Hanoi, take more than 12 hours of train to reach Sa Pa, get off the train and then climb up the steep mountain road, soon, you can see a layer of terraced rice fields extending from the bottom to the top, newly planted rice paddies are like a mirror reflecting the blue sky and white clouds, a large mountain was carved with magnificent and colorful, emerald color everywhere. The people of Da'o live in this picturesque world.
Daos are not tall, thin, always carrying a bamboo basket. That is their "baby", work in the field on their backs, to buy things on their backs, visiting friends and relatives also on their backs. Bamboo basket not only put things, but also loaded with children, the Dao people are in the bamboo basket grew up. The Dao people make a living by planting rice, and there are terraces all over the mountains. The terraces are high, so it is difficult to irrigate them. So, the D'ao people take local materials, cut down the bamboo on the mountain, connected to the "pipe" to transport the spring, through the bamboo pipe to the spring directly into the rice paddies to irrigate.
Da'ao men are strong laborers, but women do not less than their work, with children, do farm work, back heavy loads, herding livestock, everywhere you can see the head wrapped in a flowery scarf, the body tied with a flower bib, ear wearing a big silver ring, foot thatched shoes, wearing lace lace fat dress, graceful Da'ao women. They are so skillful that they not only sew their own dresses, but also make their own necklaces. The D'Or women love to look beautiful, but because of the hot weather and hard work, most of them look tired and old, with wrinkles appearing on their faces so early that it is hard to guess their actual age from their appearance.
During the day, the women worked hard, and when night fell, the world became a woman's world. They put on their little red hats and gather in the village square to sing and dance to their heart's content, relaxing their bodies and minds. The Dao people have a "lover's market", attracting many young men and women from all villages, most of them unmarried. According to the custom of the Dao people, a girl has to get married when she reaches the age of 15. If a girl over this age has not found a family, it can only mean that she is not capable, or that she is not beautiful, even the girl's family also followed the loss of face, in the townspeople in the short half. Therefore, all the girls in Dao hope that they can find the man of their choice at the age of 15. The "Lover's Market" gives them the opportunity to do so.
On Saturday nights, the market is open. In the night, men and women get together, first look at each other, then chat, feel like, soon fell in love. Some even lingering until dawn. However, this can only be said that the eight has just had a stroke, in the end can not get married still have to go through the parents that pass. The boy who likes the girl must ask his parents to go to the woman's home to propose marriage. Marriage is not a sloppy affair in the eyes of the Dao people, and the etiquette is absolutely essential. Both parents must first negotiate the bride price. Most of the bride price is in the form of livestock, but there is also cash. Only when the bride price is negotiated, the marriage will be considered a success. If the bride price falls through, no matter how much the two young men and women love each other, they will not be able to make a marriage.
Besides Saturday, Sunday is also an unusual day. On Sundays, the Dao people don't work, they put on their holiday clothes and carry bamboo baskets to the market. In a place called Baja, not far east of Shaba, there is a bustling market every Sunday. Hordes of Dao people rush there, and in a few moments they become a colorful sea. At the market they can sell their produce and livestock to buy back tobacco, horses, farm equipment and soju, as well as to meet relatives and friends. The fair was also a place where country watercolorists sold their wares and barbers made money. The market is not only popular with the locals, but also with some foreigners, who, if they are lucky, will be able to buy one or two of the beautiful handicrafts made by the Dao people.
Nowadays, the Dao people still live a simple life, and the industrial civilization has not brought much impact on their traditional folk customs.