Tiếng Việt
In Vietnam’s Northwestern mountainous region, the climate and terrain create unique living conditions. The rainy season is concentrated, and water can cause flash floods and landslides; the prolonged dry season makes water resources scarce. In this context, long-established communities such as the Thai, Muong, and many other ethnic groups have developed living traditions based on a common principle: preserving water sources is preserving the stability of the village.
The Thai and Muong people often choose to settle near streams but not right next to the water flow. Villages (bản làng) are located higher than the water level, and the headwaters are preserved as forests. The headwater forest (rừng đầu nguồn) is not a forest for timber exploitation but a forest for retaining water and soil: soft soil, soft rocks, and many spongy-stemmed, clustered-root plants such as wild bananas, arrowroot plants (cây lá dong), and various types of bamboo. These plants help absorb water during heavy rains, maintain soil moisture, and gradually release water during the dry season, ensuring a steady stream flow.
The headwater forest is considered a sacred space. No arbitrary cutting, hunting, or material gathering is allowed. For the Thai and Muong people, the water deity (thần nước) and the forest deity (thần rừng) are inseparable from daily life. This belief helps the community set self-imposed limits on their behavior towards nature.
The way water is used within the village clearly demonstrates community discipline. The stream is divided into segments: the upper segment for drinking water, the middle segment for daily use, and the lower segment for livestock. No one is allowed to disrupt this order. Cleanliness of the water is a visible matter, and the responsibility belongs to each individual.
The Thai people build mương phai (irrigation canals with weirs), while the Muong people build mương máng (irrigation channels). Although the names differ, the common point is leading water along the natural contours of the land without forcing the flow. Canal maintenance is a communal task for the entire village, demonstrating a shared responsibility in the face of climate fluctuations.
It is not only the Thai and Muong people; other ethnic groups in the Northwest, such as the Hmong, Dao, and Khmu, also have their own ways of preserving water and forests. The Hmong have ‘forbidden forests’ (rừng cấm), the Dao have ‘sacred forests’ (rừng thiêng), and the Khmu avoid making swidden fields (nương) right next to streams. Each method is different, but all aim to reserve a part of the land for nature’s self-regulation.