Vietnamese

Life in Phia Oi

Dinh Tuyen - Huu Vi• November 2, 2023 10:12

(Baonghean.vn) - Nestled on the banks of the Ban Ve hydroelectric reservoir, Phia Oi is the most economically disadvantaged village in Nhon Mai commune, Tuong Duong district. The village only received national grid electricity at the end of October 2023.

bna_phia oi.jpg — Phia Oi village is about 8km from the center of Nhon Mai commune. The road to this Khmu village requires crossing a river about 200m wide. Locals assemble wooden rafts alongside motorboats to transport people and vehicles across the river. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

bna_phia oi 1.jpg — Phia Òi used to border Mường Lống commune, Kỳ Sơn district, more than 20km from its current location. People began moving to this location in 2010, and the village was established in 2014. Photo: Đình Tuyên

bna_phia oi 2.jpg — According to Xeo Van Dinh, 33 years old (a police officer in Phia Oi village since 2014): Currently, the village has 41 households and 185 inhabitants. The entire village has one Thai household, the rest are Khmu people. Photo: Huu Vi

bna_phia oi 3.jpg — The Phia Òi village has clans such as Xeo, Moong, Cụt, Hắp, Lương… According to Mr. Xeo Văn Quế, a respected village elder, the villagers still maintain basic customs. The people mainly live in stilt houses. Each house has two kitchens: one for daily cooking, and the other for worship during festivals and holidays. The Khơ mú people in Phia Òi still maintain a traditional New Year celebration called “grơ”. Photo: Đình Tuyên

bna_phia oi 4.jpg — According to Mr. Xeo Van Dinh, no household in the village has escaped poverty. The majority of the people here mainly live by farming, raising livestock and poultry. Due to the hilly terrain, wet rice cultivation is impossible. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

bna_phia oi 6.jpg — Meanwhile, some households cling to the riverbank, both transporting passengers and fishing to earn extra income. Photo: Huu Vi

bna_phia oi 7.jpg — Having been accustomed only to slash-and-burn agriculture and gathering from nature in the mountains and forests, the Khmu people of Phia Oi developing their economy through riverine activities can be considered a new development for this community. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

bna_phia oi8.jpg — As with many other Khmu villages, a visit to Phia Oi still gives one the feeling of a rather slow-paced life, with elderly men and women leisurely sitting on their porches or by their windows. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

bna_phia oi 9.jpg — At over 90 years old, Mr. Xeo Van May is currently the oldest living person in Phia Oi. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

bna_phia oi 10.jpg — Phia Òi was the last hamlet in Nhôn Mai commune to receive national grid electricity at the end of October 2023. According to Mr. Xeo Văn Định, previously, the villagers mainly used self-generated electricity from small turbines placed in the stream, resulting in an unstable power supply. The national grid will give the villagers more opportunities to develop their economy. Currently, most of the villagers have electricity, with only a few households still without it because they are working far away or facing some paperwork issues that prevent them from signing contracts with the electricity sector. Photo: Hữu Vi

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