Explore #18 Sunday May 24, 2009 Hmong, Sapa -- We are planting the Rice now. Its early morning and Khu, carrying baby Mi Tu, husband Chain and me too :), are at the small few rows of paddies to plant Steaky Rice. Every Hmong family pride themselves of having some Steaky Rice to be used for ceremonies and special occasions. The paddies are much deeper here, harder to work in and flooded with more water. The rice planting season is now in full force and everyone is in the fields working in the labor intensive process. Unlike what many of you may think, it’s a happy time for the Hmong, when families and friends work together. They chat and laugh and you will never hear a complaint or rarely see a sign of hardship. After all, rice is the food they need and paying the utmost attention to every minute detail may just bring a few more grains. See the rice set here The Black Hmong are the 3rd largest minority in Vietnam with nearly 900,000 people. In the Sapa region there are about 35,000 Black Hmong residing in the surrounding 17 villages and they account for about 50% of the area population. The Hmong started migrating to Vietnam from China in the last 300 years. They live of the land and believe in the spirits. Flexplore ...