Mong children bathing in cold water on a cold day

In the freezing cold winter, Mong children still innocently bathe in cold water as usual.

The Mong are an ethnic group living in the high mountains with cold climate in the West of Nghe An. With the weather characteristics of fog all year round and low temperatures, they are considered the ethnic group that can withstand the cold best.

That is why, on cold winter days, not only adults but also children in this community still carefreely bathe in cold water when the temperature drops to about 10 degrees.⁰C. Because simply for them, this is "normal".

Many Mong children gather by the swimming pool on a cold day. Photo: Dao Tho

A few days ago, in the areas of Na Ngoi, Muong Long, Huoi Tu, Tay Son communes of Ky Son district, there were spots of frost. From night to early morning, the temperature dropped to 0⁰C, during the day the weather is sunny and the temperature increases but the cold still makes people shiver.

At just after 4 pm, the Mong children of Na Ngoi commune gathered at the public water tank to bathe carefreely. Using buckets to catch the cold water flowing from the tank, the girls aged about 12-15 poured it over their heads with their clothes still on, laughing and talking loudly. Looking at that scene, we standing nearby could not help but shiver even though we had put on several thick warm clothes.

Buckets of cold water poured over people in 10 degree Celsius weather. Photo: Dao Tho

Vu Y Ly from Ca Duoi village told us: “We are used to bathing like this. Even though it is colder, we still bathe normally. Moreover, it is a bit sunny today so it is not too cold.” After saying that, Y Ly happily returned to splashing water with her friends as if the winter cold did not exist.

Bare-chested Mong children play by the water tank on a cold day. Photo: Dao Tho

Not far away, in another pool, a few children, about three years old, were playing naked near the pouring water. Their laughter echoed throughout the village, making the winter air seem to disappear.

So it can be said that living year round in cold regions has given the Mong people an instinct to adapt and resist the cold. This instinct has helped them overcome harsh weather conditions to survive.