The Ha Nhi ethnic minority group is one among 19 groups residing in the northern province of Dien Bien. Many Ha Nhi people live in Muong Nhe district.
The Ha Nhi group has various traditional customs in different events like a ceremony to pray for rain and a ceremony praising a forest god.
They celebrate their traditional festival, named Co Nhe Cha, at the end of the 10th and early in the 11th month of lunar year. The festival lasts for a week, through days and nights, people join various games, make special food, sing and dance.
According to Po Chinh Pha, Vice Chairman of the Sin Thau communal People’s Committee, the commune hosts nearly 320 families with 1,400 people of seven ethnic groups, among whom the Ha Nhi account for 96 percent.
Decades ago, Sin Thau remained isolated till 2007 roads were built from the centre of Muong Nhe district to the commune. After 2012, the national electricity system reached the most remote villages of Ta Mieu and Ta Co Khu.
In recent years, the commune’s economy has been much improved with the total rice per head reaches 400kg per person a year and average income nearly 30 million VND (1,300 USD) per person annually.
This development has brought a warmer and happier life for the Ha Nhi.