Hmong village families can be large; everyone pitches in. This girl doesn't seem that much older than her little brother, but still old enough to take care of him. The Hmong, descended from Mongolian nomads, have higher cheekbones and wider faces than the Lao, or other minority communities such as the Khmu. Read more about the three levels of hill tribes we encountered on this trek.
All the necessary ingredients for a tasty dinner. The fish sauce (padek) in the plastic tubs in the back is potent - it's similar to other fermented fish concoctions in the region, but is a tad thicker. After spending three months in this region, we've become accustomed to the smells and tastes of fish sauce and shrimp paste...and have started to appreciate their value (necessity?) to food in this region. Learn more about Lao cuisine and markets.
Read more about Ban Xieng Maen.
