Folk knowledge on natural phenomena of some mountain ethnic groups in North Vietnam

Abstract

The ethnic minorities of Vietnam in general and especially the ethnic groups in the mountain zone of North Vietnam like Hmông, Dao, Tày, Nùng, Thái peoples… are populations living long on agricultural plants. The factors of weather and time are very important, impacting on effectivity and productivity of cultivated crops. Thus, people have accumulated the rich folk experiences in order to cope with natural phenomena. From one generation to another, these experiences were completed and verified by practice, helping the peasants understand the laws of weather influencing the crops by annual or maybe several-year cycle, in order to cope adequately in service of agricultural production. These experiences and knowledge will be as clarified below.