Current Situation of Some Ethnic Minorities’ Religions and Beliefs in the Vietnam - China Border Areas (Study in two provinces of Dien Bien and Ha Giang)

Abstract

The Vietnam - China border areas belonging to the two provinces of Dien Bien and Ha Giang have many ethnic groups, in which the Hmong and the Dao make up the majority. For a long time, these ethnic groups living along the border have kept their traditional beliefs, which created their unique cultural identity. Since 1986, Protestantism and some "strange religions" have been introduced into these lands, causing disturbances in people’s lives. The article analyses some characteristics of the related Vietnam - China border areas and points out the reality of changing religious beliefs of in the ethnic minorities border areas of two provinces of Dien Bien and Ha Giang since 1986.