“Ở rừng ở núi” sharing session: 13 years with Northwest ethnic minority groups

“Ở rừng ở núi” (Living in the Forest, Living in the Mountains) was a sharing session organised by the social enterprise Chie Dù Pù Dù Pà on Sunday morning 18 December 2022, 10:00–12:00, on the third floor of the Chie store at 66 Hàng Trống, Hanoi. It was free.

Founder Thủy Chie told the story of 13 years working alongside ethnic minority groups in the Northwest to preserve culture and develop traditional handicrafts: time spent in the forests and mountains with Hmong, Dao, Lao and Thai communities, her passion for brocade, and many funny and meaningful stories of highland life.

What was in the session?

• 1001 stories about highland life: customs, taboos and the quirks of each ethnic group.
• Original artefacts of the groups, from brocade and folk instruments to baskets for carrying arrows into the forest.
• Northwest tea and traditional Vietnamese snacks.
• A chance to try weaving and spinning thread the way Thai and Hmong villagers do.

Why “Dù pù dù pà”?

The name sounds strange. When Thủy worked on projects years ago and asked villagers where they lived, they did not speak much Vietnamese and said “dù pù dù pà ơ”, which in Thai means “we just live in the forest and mountains!”. She found it so endearing that she named her social enterprise after it.

Thank you from Chie

The event was planned in a rush, and Chie did not expect so many people, especially young people, to join. We hope the session gave a fresh view of craft and sustainable handmade products that make a positive impact on communities.

In the coming months Chie will hold more gatherings on the third floor at 66 Hàng Trống, and is happy to lend the space for small community events.

Translated from the Vietnamese original.