Hmong participation in State policy implementation in Dong Van Stone Plateau, Ha Giang province

Abstract

Dong Van Stone Plateau, Ha Giang Province was one of the first places where the Hmong migrated in Vietnam. As a large number of Hmong people reside in the area, elements of their traditional culture have been preserved. In the process of living in Dong Van Stone Plateau, along with the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945, Hmong residents of Dong Van became citizens of Vietnam and contributed to making this locality into the homeland of the Hmong through their participation in the implementation of the Vietnamese government’s development policies. This article reflects the participation of the Hmong people of Dong Van Plateau in implementing a number of policies, including road construction, opium eradication, poverty alleviation and economic development based on heritage tourism. The results show that the Hmong had mixed attitudes toward the state's development policies; some were actively supportive, while others still had many concerns. The participation of the Hmong in state programs and policies not only brought meaning to state projects but also benefited them. The Hmong enjoyed certain rights as an intermediary group, utilizing state programs to supplement their traditional livelihoods and participate in meaningful social activities.