The Akha People of Northern Laos: A window to a disappearing culture
Spread across the northern reaches of Vietnam, Laos, Burma and Thailand, and into southern China, in a region that has long been isolated and neglected, the hills are largely the preserve of a scattering of animist tribal people who have moved south from China over the past two centuries.
They included the Hmong, Mien, Lenten, Lahu and Akha, who generally survive by slash-and-burn clearing of the forest on the steep and inaccessible slopes, growing most of what they need and bartering with the lowlanders for anything else.
Thanks to its recent accessibility, the north of Laos is one of the best locations to experience some of these cultures that still have only occasional contact with foreigners.
Under threat from land concessions given to the Chinese who can cross the border with ease, as well as government drives to integrate them into more urbanized settings, it would be no surprise if these strongly independent, self-sufficient communities soon started to disappear in all but name.
One of the main locations from which to visit the hill-tribes is Muang Namtha, close to the border with China. However, even further north, the town of Muang Long, close to the Burmese border, is close to largely unvisited hill communities. Despite being a district capital, Muang Long only numbers about 3,500 residents
