States, Hmong, and Markets

Hmong in Comparative Contexts Conference
The Hmong Studies Consortium
University of Wisconsin-Madison/University of Minnesota
Center for Southeast Asian Studies, March 4, 2011 – March 6, 2011
States, Hmong, and Markets:
Comparing “Ethnic Markets” in
Luang Phrabang (Laos) and Sapa - Bac Ha
(Vietnam)
Dr. Christian CULAS
Institute of Research on Contemporary South-East Asia (IRASEC - Bangkok)
French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS)
E-mail: christianculas@yahoo.fr
1 – Ethnic groups in Vietnam and Laos
• Contrasts in ethnic and political context:
A – National Demography
1) In Vietnam, ethnic groups make up roughly 13% of the total
population compared to 87% for the ethnic Kinh.
Political participation of ethnic minorities is low and is often
locally managed by the Kinh. Hmong are at the outer
fringes of the political system.
2) In Laos, ethnic minorities make up roughly 52% of total
population with 48% for the ethnic Lao.
Political participation of ethnic minorities is better than in
Vietnam, especially for the Hmong. They are often highlevel, political representatives at the state/national level.
1 – Ethnic groups in Vietnam and Laos
• Similarities within an ethnic context:
B – Provincial Demography
1) In the Lao Cai province (Vietnam), ethnic minorities
constitute around 65% of population (Hmong and DaoMien make up 50% of all minority ethnic groups). The
Kinh represent 35% of the total population.
2) In the Luang Phrabang province (Laos), ethnic minorities
constitute around 70% of the population (Khamou: 45%,
Hmong and Yao-Mien: 15% of all minority ethnic groups).
The ethnic Lao represent 30% of the total population.
Ethnic diversity in North Laos and Vietnam
1 – Ethnic groups in Vietnam and Laos
Similarities within an ethnic context:
C – Economy and market management
1) In both Vietnam and Laos, ethnic tourist markets
were created at the initiative of the ethnic minorities.
They are the main source of income for hundreds of
minority families.
2) In both countries, local authorities need and plan to
organise and control these markets in terms of the local
"development standards" and the national tourism
lobbies.
2- History of the Creation of Tourist
Markets and Current Management
2- History of the Luang Phrabang Tourist Market
Luang Phrabang (Laos) :
- 1998: 10 Hmong women were the first vendors in the
city's central square (currently the “ethnic market place”)
- 2001: 170 ethnic vendors (Hmong, Thai Dam,
Khamou)
- 2002: market banned from city centre (170 families
excluded, all income lost)
- 2003: agreement between UNESCO, the Luang
Prabang municipality, and vendors = better organized
market in city centre
- 2004: new market organized: more income for
minority and Lao vendors and more tourists
Hmong Stands, Luang Prabang day market, 2004
Hmong Stands, Luang Prabang night market, 2004
2- History of the Sapa Tourist Market
Sapa (Vietnam) :
- 1995: First foreign tourists in Sapa. The Hmong and the DaoYao sold home-made, handicrafts on the street
- 1997: Construction of new concrete market in the city centre,
with a small space reserved for minority vendors. Street sales
continued.
First Kinh-owned stores selling ethnic textiles
- 2003-2004: Experts analyzed possibilities to develop the Sapa
market: modernisation, allowing minorities a designated place,
income...
- 2008-2011: Project to move the “ethnic” market into the
modern building. However the rent was too high for minority
vendors, excluding them and leading to a loss of income.
However, new “ethnic label” shops were opened for Kinh
vendors.
Hmong and Yao street vendors, Sapa, 2009
Hmong street vendors, Sapa, 2009
Hmong Stands, Sapa market, 2008
2- History of Bac Ha Tourist Market
Bac Ha (Vietnam):
-1998: First tourist tours visited this minority market
(no products for tourists, only products for local
people and farming supplies).
2003-2004: Experts studied possibilities to develop
and manage the Bac Ha market: modernization,
allowing minorities a designated place, better income:
project “fight poverty”). Experts' recommendation: 2
separate markets is worthwhile. A Map was published
to explain the situation and the main economical and
social risks.
2- History of Bac Ha Tourist Market
Bac Ha :
- 2006 Creation of 2 distinct markets: a local
minority market that sold to both local and tourist
consumers. No tourist shops run by Bac Ha minorities
(only Kinh and Tay from other places).
- Total exclusion of local ethnic tourist trade, despite
the recommendations of the 2003-2004 review.
- The government notes the problem of low-income
for minority groups in Sapa and Bac Ha. It created
some specific development projects (Top –Down) to
help them and asked for international financial support
(World Bank, European Union…
Hmong Stands (local incense), Bac Ha market, 2009
Hmong Stand (traditional medecine), Bac Ha market, 2009
3- Comparing elements (A)
Laos
Origin of
handicrafts
Vietnam
Luang Phrabang
Sapa
Bac Ha
Local network of
ethnic family
Local network of
ethnic family
Chinese and
Vietnamese
industrial
production
Local Ethnic 10%,
Kinh sellers 90%
Hmong and Dao have
a space in the central
market
Kinh 90% Tày
10% (all
dealers)
-Fabric from Thailand
- Size from US and EU
Market and
shops selling
ethnic
products
Specific market
made for local
Ethnic (95%),
Lao 5%
Dwelling
Luang Prabang All minority villages
All minority
place of the
center in Town are outside the town of
villages are
ethnic market and Villages from Sapa
outside the town
vendors
the city
of Bac Ha
3- Comparing elements (B)
Laos
Luang Phrabang
Market
organization
Specific trade by
ethnicity (only local
handicrafts with
control of origin)
- Chinese and
Vietnamese products
are banned
Market
Management
Group
City council
responsibles (Lao),
representatives of
vendors markets +
Hmong and Lao
Vietnam
Sapa
Bac Ha
Today space for
Stalls for
ethnic groups, but in tourists outside
the new market =
the local
excluded ethnic
market
sellers for economic
(excluding
reasons
local ethnic
groups)
City and district
council managersresponsibles (Kinh)
(no representatives
of Hmong and Dao
vendors)
Kinh and Tay
(no
representatives
of Hmong,
Dao, Phula)
3 – Summary of Differences
- Luang Phrabang : tourism market based on minority business => 170
minority families earn their livelihood directly from the market.
* Shared management : Lao authorities, minority vendors, and UNESCO
experts with project follow-ups that span several years.
- Sapa : tourist market that tolerates minority vendors (income for 15
families inside the old building). Difficulties in the future of the ethnic
market?
* Management by government authorities only (no minority vendors, and
study reports since 1994 have been largely ignored)
- Bac Ha: Tourist market organised by excluding local minorities. No local
groups earn income from sales to tourists.
* Management by government authorities only (no minority vendors, and
study reports since 2004 have been largely ignored)
Development Projects
The economic and social integration of minority ethnic groups
are two main goals in Laos and Vietnam.
Since 1998, “P 135”, a national program in Vietnam has spent
more than 50 Millions US$ every year to “Eradicate poverty in
mountainous regions”.
* For the market Laos, consultation (expert studies) and
negotiation have lead to urban integration and the strong
development of both the minority market and the city of Luang
Prabang
* Both markets of Vietnam show that contract management is
done without consultation (expert studies) nor negotiation with
minority groups. Despite the rapid development of Sapa and
Bac Ha cities, ethnic groups are not integrated economically or
socially (excluded from urban space and tourist revenue)
4 – Some questions
Almost every development report states that ethnic groups are
« underdeveloped » because « they do not know how to
take advatage of business opportunities ».
1) How then have ethnic minorities created successful,
new businesses (not traditional ones) in Luang Prabang
and Sapa markets, and many other places in SouthEast Asia?
1) Why are they not capable of doing the same with other
products?
2) Do we know enough about minority societies and
economy to state that they do not know how to do
business?
4 – Some questions
The Vietnamese government's official goals for the Sapa and
Bac Ha markets are to « better integrate minority groups
into Vietnamese economy and society. » These are not the
observable goals in the markets themselves.
1) What are the government's real objectives for the
minorities?
2) Why does the majority of development projects not
take into account independant and local development
initiatives?
3) Does the government's conception of minorities hamper
its ability to find effective solutions?
Conclusion
In each context, what are the possibilities for negotiations
between ethnic populations and local authorities?
These negotiations are set to:
-The level of trust between partners (this is better confidence
in Laos and Vietnam between Hmong and authorities)
- The social networks of people involved (better
social/political networks of Hmong in Laos and Vietnam)
The Hmong of Laos have strong relationships (mutual
support) with their families overseas and with some local
authorities
- The level of confidence of market vendors, to be able to
invest more in their activities