Inside the Life of the Lo Lo People in Vietnam

When visiting Lo Lo Chai Village at the foot of the Lung Cu Flag Tower in Ha Giang, you’ll encounter the Lo Lo people, one of Vietnam’s smallest yet most culturally distinctive ethnic groups. They are known not only for their handmade multicolored attire and stone-built homes, but also for a rich cultural life shaped by ancestral worship, seasonal rituals and spiritual beliefs rooted deeply in tradition.

This guide by Phieu Travel offers a closer look at their way of life, including daily customs, oral heritage and sacred practices that continue to thrive in Vietnam’s northern highlands.

1. An introduction to the Lo Lo ethnic group in Vietnam

The Lo Lo people are one of Vietnam’s smallest ethnic minorities, with just over 3,300 individuals living mainly in Ha Giang and Cao Bang. In Dong Van and Meo Vac, they form two branches: Lo Lo Den (Black Lo Lo) in Lung Cu, and Lo Lo Hoa (Flowery Lo Lo) in Lung Tao, Sung La, and rural villages. While they share language and customs, their traditional clothing clearly reflects regional identity.

The Lo Lo have a long-standing presence in Vietnam, with multiple migration waves traced back to the 10th through 17th centuries. Historical accounts link their arrival to the collapse of the Nanzhao Kingdom, followed by successive migrations from southern China into Ha Giang. Oral traditions and ritual chants still reference ancient homelands, highlighting a deep connection to both past and place.

Despite their small numbers, the Lo Lo have left a lasting imprint on the Dong Van Karst Plateau, now a UNESCO-recognized geopark. Their spiritual beliefs, oral heritage, and tight-knit village life help preserve cultural identity in one of Vietnam’s most remote yet resilient highland communities.

2. The Mythical Origins of the Lo Lo People

According to Lo Lo oral tradition, their ancestors were seven siblings from a place called Po Ha, believed to be in southern China. Three journeyed south; one was lost, while the other two reached Dong Van (Ha Giang) and Bao Lac (Cao Bang). These two became the founding ancestors of the Lo Lo communities that exist today.

Though mythical in tone, the story aligns with cultural practice. In both regions, the Lo Lo are remembered as early cultivators of the land. Local Tay and H’mong communities still honor Lo Lo spirits through farming rituals. At the Long Tong Festival in Nam Quang, a Tay elder of Lo Lo origin leads the seed-offering to bless the harvest. These traditions reflect the Lo Lo’s foundational place in the region’s cultural memory.

3. Cultural highlights of the Lo Lo community

The Lo Lo people express their identity through daily life, rituals, traditions. The following sections explore the key cultural elements that define their community in northern Vietnam.

3.1 Traditional way of life

The Lo Lo people live in stable highland villages formed around tightly bound clans. Each clan worships a common ancestor, shares responsibilities in village life and maintains a distinct burial section within a larger communal cemetery. This structure not only preserves lineage identity but also reinforces intergenerational bonds rooted in spiritual continuity.

Village life revolves around mutual support. During weddings or funerals, every household contributes – some prepare food, others handle rituals or host guests. Seasonal events like the New Rice celebration bring families together through singing, dancing and shared meals. While marriage within the Lo Lo group is common, strict exogamy between clans ensures balance and respect across the community.

3.2 Distinctive housing architecture

In Ha Giang, Lo Lo homes are often built on gentle mountain slopes, with the front facing valleys or rice fields. Most households live in trinh tuong houses, made by compacting soil into thick earthen walls. Wealthier families build wooden stilt houses from solid timber, offering better insulation and durability. Around each home is a low mud fence and a clean, well-maintained courtyard.

Traditional Lo Lo homes follow a three-room layout designed around both function and belief. The central space holds the family altar and serves as a place to welcome guests. One side belongs to parents and elders, the other to children and newlyweds. Some houses also include an attic for storing food crops – reflecting the Lo Lo’s emphasis on self-sufficiency and generational structure.

3.3 Vibrant traditional clothing

Women’s clothing is the most distinctive marker of Lo Lo identity. Flower Lo Lo women (Lo Lo Hoa) wear indigo jackets with round collars, colorful applique sleeves and layered fabric in red, yellow, white. Black Lo Lo (Lo Lo Den) women favor square-neck tunics, pleated black skirts, and symbolic patterns like pá pú and triangles that represent ancestors and fertility.

They wrap their long hair across the forehead and cover it with brightly colored headscarves adorned with tassels and bold embroidery. In some villages, women wear hat-like wraps made from pieced fabric, a style influenced by Tibetan–Burman textile traditions that emphasize layered structure and symbolic stitching.

Lo Lo men wear simpler attire: dark indigo shirts with side-fastened collars and straight-leg trousers. Their outfits lack decorative motifs but maintain cultural identity through formality and consistency across regions.

3.4 Lo Lo arts and performance culture

The Lo Lo preserve a rich heritage of music, dance, and spiritual storytelling. Central to their artistic identity is the bronze drum – a sacred instrument used only in funerals or ritual dances. Each drum is guarded by the clan leader and buried underground when not in use. Before playing, families offer incense to seek permission from ancestral spirits.

Lo Lo folklore links the bronze drum to an ancient flood myth. Legend says two siblings survived a great flood by floating in a pair of drums – one large, one small – and later became the ancestors of humankind. This origin story reinforces the drum’s role not just as a musical instrument, but as a bridge between life and the afterlife.

Traditional dances are performed after ceremonial offerings, often accompanied by drums or one-string zithers. Group dances involve both men and women, while others – like courtship dances – are reserved for young women. Today, most Lo Lo villages maintain performing troupes, allowing visitors to experience these living traditions even outside of festival days.

3.5 Unique culinary traditions

The Lo Lo people rely on corn-based staples like men men (steamed minced corn), corn rice, sticky rice,… paired with simple proteins and seasonal greens. On festival days, they prepare sticky rice cake from glutinous corn and dishes like blood pudding or roasted pork to mark important occasions.

Alongside these ceremonial meals is rice wine. It’s more than a drink – it’s a form of respect. Whether during rituals or friendly visits, offering wine reflects hospitality and helps renew social bonds.

3.6 The Lo Lo traditional calendar

The Lo Lo people follow an oral calendar system that divides the year into 11 months, each named after an animal. Passed down through generations, this unique timekeeping method reflects their close connection to nature, seasonal cycles and ancestral wisdom.

3.7 Spiritual beliefs and community rituals

Spirituality among the Lo Lo shapes how they understand life, death, and community. Each belief is embodied in rituals that mark major transitions – from ancestral reverence to marriage, birth and funerary rites.

3.7.1 Ancestor worship beliefs

Ancestor worship is a core aspect of Lo Lo spiritual life. Families honor their deceased ancestors with wooden spirit tablets, painted with black charcoal. These altars, placed in the home, are maintained by the thầu chú (family elder), who oversees rituals and ensures traditions are passed down through generations.

In addition to ancestor reverence, the Lo Lo worship nature deities such as Ma Do, Ma Qua and Ma Me, gods who protect the mountains, water, and earth. On the 12th day of the third lunar month, the village gathers for the mi lu ritual in the sacred forest to honor these gods. During the ritual, work halts, and the chosen host sows the first seeds of the season, symbolizing a fresh start and divine blessings for the year ahead.

3.7.2 Marriage customs

Marriage customs among the Lo Lo are steeped in tradition, emphasizing family values and respect. Marriages are typically arranged with a high bride price, which may include items such as silver, livestock, rice wine and others.

The wedding ceremony is formal, with the groom’s family presenting offerings to the bride’s family. Following the offering, a feast takes place, and rice wine is served at the entrance of the bride’s house. The couple then participates in a singing ritual before the bride is escorted to her new home.

Lo Lo marriages are traditionally monogamous, with arrangements made by the elders. Although younger generations today have more freedom to choose their spouses, family involvement remains a crucial aspect. After the ceremony, the newlyweds visit the bride’s family before returning to the groom’s home.

3.7.3 Childbirth traditions

Childbirth among the Lo Lo is guided by strict customs to protect the mother and child. Pregnant women follow dietary restrictions, and births are traditionally held at home with the help of a midwife. After 12 days, a naming ceremony is held, with the possibility of changing the child’s name if needed for spiritual balance.

The newborn is washed with a new cloth, and the umbilical cord is cut with bamboo, sealed in a bamboo tube, and hidden in the forest for protection. Both mother and child are bathed with water infused with aromatic leaves like guava and pomelo.

For 33 days, the mother stays away from the family’s fire pit and uses a separate water supply. A bundle of leaves is placed outside the house to signal the birth and warn visitors. After the confinement, a shaman performs a naming ceremony, and a tui pui – a small leaf house –  is erected to honor Ba Mu, the goddess who protects the child.

3.7.3 Funeral rites

Funeral rites among the Lo Lo people are essential for guiding the deceased’s soul to the afterlife, reflecting their deep spiritual beliefs. The rituals include activities like mask-wearing, dancing, acrobatics,… all meant to honor the departed and ensure their safe passage to the ancestral realm.

A key component of these rituals is the bronze drum. The Lo Lo believe the sound of the drum is vital to guide the soul of the deceased. Without the drum, the soul cannot find its way to the ancestors. This practice, unique to the Lo Lo, highlights their respect for the spiritual world and their connection to their ancestors.

4. Ritual ceremonies practiced by the Lo Lo people

The Lo Lo people’s rituals are central to their spiritual life, with ceremonies that honor their ancestors and ensure community well-being. In the following sections, we will delve into three key rituals: Ancestor Worship, Rain-Praying and Village Purification, each crucial for maintaining balance and tradition in their lives.

4.1 Ancestor Worship Ritual 

The Lo Lo people’s ancestor worship ritual is a deeply ingrained tradition, held annually on the 14th of the 7th lunar month. Centered around a family altar, offerings such as livestock, rice and wine are presented to honor ancestors. The head of the family oversees the ceremony, and the ritual includes prayers, sacrifices, and community involvement to seek blessings for prosperity, health, and happiness.

A unique aspect of the ritual is the “Ma Co” (Grass Spirit) dance, where men wear grass-made costumes and perform traditional dances to the rhythm of bronze drums, symbolizing the connection between the living and their ancestors. 

This ritual, recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, not only preserves the Lo Lo’s cultural identity but also strengthens family bonds and deepens the connection to their ancestral roots.

4.2 Rain-Praying Ceremony 

The Lo Lo people’s rain-praying ceremony, held every March, is a key tradition to secure good harvests, especially during dry spells. The community gathers, offering items like chickens, rice wine, and other offerings. Elder priests lead rituals with symbolic actions to call for rain.

Following the ceremony, a festive feast is held, where Lo Lo women perform traditional dances, accompanied by the rhythmic beat of the bronze drum. It is believed that within 3 to 9 days, the rain will come, ensuring a prosperous harvest and blessings for the village.

4.3 Village Purification Rite 

Every three years, the Lo Lo people in Sang Pa A village (Meo Vac, Ha Giang) perform the Village Purification Rite on the 15th of May and 5th of June in the lunar calendar. The ritual begins with a request to ancestral spirits using giay truc, water, and a white rooster. A 3-meter bamboo horse effigy is prepared and carried with ritual objects. The shaman, holding buffalo horns, visits each household to banish evil spirits.

At a sacred crossroads, two goats and the rooster are sacrificed. Goat blood is painted on five wooden swords, which are hung above doors to guard against bad forces. No meat or wine can be taken home – doing so is believed to invite spirits back. This strict custom ensures the ritual’s power and keeps the entire village under shared spiritual protection.

5. Cultural travel tips for visiting the Lo Lo community

To experience the Lo Lo culture authentically and respectfully, it’s important to approach your visit with cultural awareness. Below are three practical tips that help travelers engage meaningfully with the community while supporting local values and traditions.

5.1 Respect local traditions and beliefs

Always ask before entering a home, taking photos or joining a ritual. The Lo Lo people value spiritual purity, and certain spaces or objects may be off-limits. Respecting local customs, especially during important ceremonies like the Village Purification Rite, helps build trust and encourages deeper cultural understanding.

5.2 Stay with local families and join daily life

Homestays provide more than a place to sleep. They allow you to share meals, join in farming and observe traditional routines. Living alongside Lo Lo families offers insight into their daily life while contributing directly to household income and long-term cultural preservation.

5.3 Travel with a local guide for deeper insight

A local guide adds depth to your journey by explaining cultural meanings, guiding behavior during rituals, and helping you connect respectfully with villagers. This is essential in places like Lo Lo Chai, where many customs are rooted in oral tradition and spiritual practice.

All Ha Giang Loop tours by Phieu Travel are led by local guides who speak the dialect, understand village norms and help visitors engage with communities in ways that are respectful, informed, culturally sensitive.

Exploring the Lo Lo people gives you direct access to one of Vietnam’s most resilient cultures, where rituals and daily life remain closely linked. Phieu Travel’s local guides help you understand what’s often unspoken –  from household customs to community beliefs. It’s not about watching from the outside, but learning through real interaction. That’s what makes the experience both respectful and lasting.