In northern Laos, Luang Nam Tha and Oudomxai provinces are home to one of the country’s smaller minority groups, the Lanten. One Lanten lady told me there were 21 villages in the valleys of the north.   

I have a special affection for Lanten. They are a friendly group of people, although understandably a little camera shy. In every village I visited I was made to feel extremely welcome. Lanten are animist and I was fortunate to witness the third and final day of a spirit ceremony held for several men in the village who were sick with a fever – malaria, I assumed. This was followed by a feast to which I was invited to attend.

Closely related to the Mien, the Lanten came to Laos from southern China and Vietnam over one hundred years ago. Their language is similar to the Mien and their writing uses Chinese characters.

These days, most hilltribes wear very little traditional clothing on a day to day basis. Generally it is reserved for special occasions. The Lanten, however, are an exception. The women always wear dark indigo clothing decorated with white or pink tassels. They also wear white leggings wrapped from their knees to their ankle. When girls reach puberty they pluck their eyebrows and wear their hair up in a distinctive fashion.

Lanten are also one of the most skilled and productive of the hilltribes in Laos. The grow cotton, spin it, weave and dye it to make their own clothing. They also make saa paper from mulberry bark and are skilled silversmiths.

Houses are generally wooden with a thatch roof. Often many families will live in the same building.  Last year I was fortunate enough to watch a community rethatch one of the houses in a village in Luang Nam Tha, a process which takes place every three years or so.

The Lanten cultivate rice and vegetables, and although the men are skilled hunters their diet is predominantly one of rice and vegetables.

 You can see more images in the Laos gallery.