THE HAW PEOPLE OF NORTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 18, 2000
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: June 1, 1963
• Content Type: STUDY

Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79TO1018A000400040001-6
CIA-RDP79T0101,8A000400040001-6 :.
 Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
SECRET Copy No. 10
GEOGRAPHIC SUPPORT STUDY
THE HAW PEOPLE OF NORTH VIETNAM
CIA/RR GS 63-5
June 1963
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Research and Reports
SECRET
GROUP 1
Excluded from automatic
downgrading and
declassification
Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
 Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
This material contains information affecting
the National Defense of the United States
within the meaning of the espionage laws,
Title 18, USC, Secs. 793 and 794, the trans-
mission or revelation of which in any manner
to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
 Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
THE HAW PEOPLE OF NORTH VIETNAM
CIA/RR GS 63-5
June 1963
Office of Research and Reports
S-E-C-R-E-T
Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
 Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
THE HAW PEOPLE OF NORTH VIETNAM*
I. General
The Haw of North Vietnam are the descendants of YUnnanese Lolo who
moved into northern Vietnam before the late 19th century. One large-scale
Lolo invasion was repulsed in the 16th century. Another major attack
between 1870 and 187+ penetrated as far south as northern Thailand and
Luang Prabang. French reprisals drove most of the invaders back into
Yunnan, but a number remained in what is now North Vietnam. Others have
come more recently from YLinnan and have stayed to trade and to cultivate
the land.
II. Population and Distribution
The Government of North Vietnam reported that there were 6,898 members
of the Haw tribe within its borders in 1960, comprising 0.04 percent of
the total population. Of this total, 3,331 were male and 3,567, female.
The Haw are concentrated near the North Vietnam -- Yunnan border in two
major nodes. The larger of these concentrations is in the extreme northwest
near Lai Chau, whereas the other is east of Ha Giang (see Map 29+62).
* In literature relating to the Haw people of North Vietnam several tribal
names have been used. One name, Lolo, that is widely used is of Chinese
origin and normally refers to all of the people of the Tibeto-Burmese ethnic
group. The Tibeto-Burmese tribes of Laos are called Ho, whereas those
residing-in North Vietnam near Lai Chau are often referred to as Ho-nhi,
Houni, Ouo-ni, or Wo-ni. The term "Lolo" literally refers to the little
baskets that are hung on the roof pole of a Lolo house as part of a religious
ritual. The Haw themselves dislike the term and refer to their original
tribe as Dji or Gni. In order to avoid confusion, the term "Haw" will be
used in this report to denote all of the Lolo people of North Vietnam.
Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
 Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
Although the Haw form a minor percentage of the total population of North
Vietnam, closely related Lolo groups form a significant ethnic minority group
in China. Chinese Communist sources recently estimated that there are
3,400,000 Lolo living in Ytinn.an and Szechuan. It also has been estimated
that 5,000 Ho live in Laos, and 650 tribesmen of the Lolo group in
northern Thailand.
III. Culture
The language of the Haw belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family, being
monosyllabic with intonations. There are reported to be dialectal
differences in the forms that are spoken by the Haw tribes of North Vietnam.
The Lolo of Yunnan have developed a simple script, but it has never been
widely used and, reportedly, few of the Haw are familiar with it.
Most of the Haw are animists who worship evil spirits primarily. Many
of them also worship their ancestors, and figurines of ancestors are often
displayed, one for each generation, within their houses. Most villages have
a shaman who orally transmits the traditions of the tribe. The traditional
religious practices of the Haw, however, have been influenced and modified
by the neighboring Meo and Yao. The Haw normally cremate their dead.
The Haw of North Vietnam are generally of Mongoloid stock. The men
normally go barefooted and wear a bun of hair on the top of the head. Haw
dress is similar to that of the YHnnanese Chinese. The women generally wear
long, pleated skirts and wear kerchiefs on their heads.
Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
 Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
The Haw are divided into two major social classes: The Black Bones
(man zi), who form the upper class, or nobility; and the White Bones
(mung za), who form the peasant class. There has been almost no inter-
marriage between the classes. Because the Haw of North Vietnam are mostly
White Bones, class distinction is of minor significance. =Purth 3' h6re,,
their social system is breaking down not only as a result of being far
removed from their homeland in Yunnan but also because of contact with
their neighbors of other tribes. Marriage seems to bea more respected
institution among the Haw than among the neighboring. tribes, and adultery
is considered to be criminal. Haw society is based upon the clan system,
which is credited with having preserved much of the solidarity of the Black
Bones. The Haw are warlike and are given to blood feuds, perhaps an
outgrowth of clan loyalties. In general, the Haw have been strongly
influenced by the Meo and Yao, and many of the social customs that developed
in China have been altered in North Vietnam. Reportedly, the Haw use large
quantities of alcohol and opium.
Haw villages are normally constructed on hillsides at elevations above
4,000 feet. Haw houses usually have three rooms;,two types of construction
have been observed. The poorer Haw tend to construct their houses on the
ground and to use cornstalks or mud to build the low walls and straw to
build the roofs. In the wealthier villages the Haw use lumber and build
Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
 Approved For Release 2000/06/01: CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
their houses on piles, after the fashion of their Tai neighbors. Livestock
normally is kept under such houses, and Haw villages have been noted for
their unsanitary condition. Generally, Haw villages are not far from the
fields. Destruction of nearby forests is common.
The Haw have a complex economy, although they are primarily agricul-
turalists. Apparently, many Haw have adopted a sedentary pattern of
agriculture that is superior in many ways to that of their neighbors.
Wherever possible they use oxen for plowing. In some rugged areas of North
Vietnam, however, they are forced to use a digging stick. They are one of
the few tribal groups that raise a fodder crop (buckwheat). The basic diet
consists of rice, maize, and vegetables. The Haw cultivate both mountain
(dryland) rice and wet rice. They also grow peas, beans, cucumbers, and
eggplant, and fruits such as pears, peaches, grapefruit, and guava, as
well as nuts.
The Haw raise livestock -- horses, cattle, oxen, pigs, and poultry --
extensively, and some keep bees. Like most mountain people, they also hunt
and fish.
The Haw generally are regarded as shrewd businessmen. They are active
traders who make extensive use of the barter system. Most of their trans-
actions involve agricultural products. The Haw probably are best known,
however, for their involvement in the opium traffic between China and Southeast
Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
 Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
S-E-C-R-E-T
Asia. In the past
Haw caravans from Yunnan went deep in search of opium. Even today, many Haw live in the villages of
other tribes, where they deal in both alcohol and opium. It is r
safe to assume that the p obably
Haw are still deeply involved in the opium traffic,
although the Government of
North Vietnam has taken steps to control it,
probably through the North Vietnamese state tradi
It is reported that the ~ organization (Mau Dich).
of North Vietnam is of high
quality and is
well-received on the international market.
IV. Contacts
It is difficult to estimate the extent of contacts between the Haw
the Vietnamese toda and
Y. In the past, contact has been limited, partly because
the Haw live in a remote, mountainous section of the country, where
Vietnamese live in the as the
lowlands. The caption for the accompanying photograph
(see p. () suggests that the
present regime in North Vietnam is attempting
to establish greater contact with its minority groups.
The Haw have been greatly influenced by the neighboring tribes s
the Tai, Meo , uch as
and Yao. It has been reported that the
to these tribes that they Haw are so subservient
are subjected to both forced labor and tithing.
S-E-C-R-E-T
Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79TO1018A000400040001-6
 Approved For Release 2000106101 : CIA-RDP79T01018A(~01-6
INDEX TO PROVINCES
1. HA GIANG
1. GAO BANG
3.TLYEN QLANG
4. BAC KAN
i. THAI NGUYEN
6. LANG SON
;. LAO KAY
P- YEN BAY
9. PHL THIS
10. SON TAY
11. VINH PHUC YEN
11. BAC NINH
13. BAC GIANG
14. HA! N!NH
li. HA! L L C
it NL \&; YEN
HA )NH
1. HOA BINH
14. HA NAM
10. THAI BINH
11. KIEV AN
21. VINH BINH
23. NAM L)INH
24. THANH HOA
25. NGHE AN
'_6. HA TINH
IT. QUANG Bi\H
NORTH VIETNAM
International boundary
Autonomous region or
special zone boundary
- - Province boundary
National capital
Thai u Region or zone capital
a Province capital
^ Special city
-'' - - Railroad
Road
---- Track or trail
yl 25 50 100 Miles
0 25 50 100 Kilometers
r
/ Vang
t Vieng
/
Udon Thani
THAI-M&0
~TONQMO(IS
Xieng
Rhouang
Lao Kay
Ha Giang
Sam Neua~"`
C.
.\
24
Muang
Sakon Nakhon
T AILAND
t
HAW PEOPLE IN NORTH VIETNAM
Boundodrr
those sEC
29462 11-60
Mahe' --
Sarakham
T, hakhek
\l ;
SECT
Approved For Release 2000106101 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
Ching-hsi
Na Cham
r.
Lang Son
! Bo Ho Su
Saravane
Ning.ming
VINH LINH
SPECIAL ZONE
h inh
DEMARCATION LINE
 Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79TO1018A000400040001-6
As translated from the caption. in the March 1963 edition
of the North Vietnamese publication Vietnam, the descrip-
tio
f th
h
n o
is p
otograph reads:
This is the view of`the Hanoi daily
Thoi Moi (New'Times) of Miss Nguyen
thi Van, Ha Giang Province, accordionist
of the local Song and Dance Ensemble of
Lolo minority origin. Young and gifted
art workers like Nguyen thi Van have
emerged in increasing numbers among the
minority peoples of_ North Vietnam.
Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : - 79T01- f 8A00040004Q0 1.-6
S-E-C-R-E-T.
 Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6
SECRET
SECRET
Approved For Release 2000/06/01 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400040001-6