About The Hmong People.
The Hmong are one of Vietnam’s largest ethnic minority groups, with populations concentrated in the northern highlands. Their presence in these mountains traces back to large migration waves from southern China in the 18th and 19th centuries, when many Hmong families moved southward seeking autonomy, arable land, and refuge from conflict. Their communities are typically located in remote upland areas, where terraced rice fields, rugged limestone mountains, and cloud-wrapped valleys shape both their livelihoods and their cultural identity.
The history of the Hmong in northern Vietnam has been marked by displacement, marginalization, and periodic conflict. As a minority living on the peripheries of state power, the Hmong have often struggled for cultural and political autonomy. Their geographic isolation, while protective of their traditions, has also contributed to limited access to education, land rights, and public services. Reports highlight persistent social barriers—from language differences to poverty—that have kept many Hmong communities economically disadvantaged. Some accounts describe episodes of discrimination, restrictions on religious expression, and pressures to assimilate, particularly affecting Christian Hmong in certain provinces.
The Hmong and Their Alliance with the United States During the Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War era, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) conducted what became known as the Secret War. Beginning in the early 1960s, the CIA recruited tens of thousands of Hmong men and even boys—some as young as 11—to form Special Guerrilla Units (SGU). These fighters were tasked with disrupting North Vietnamese supply lines along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, gathering intelligence, rescuing downed American pilots, guarding strategic installations, and countering communist insurgencies. Working closely with the CIA, Hmong paramilitary force became a formable force that the U.S. came to rely upon heavily. Estimates suggest that more than 30,000–40,000 Hmong soldiers died serving American interests during this period, with former CIA Director William Colby noting that their actions likely saved over 50,000 American lives.
Collapse, Betrayal, and Mass Persecution After 1975
When the United States withdrew from Southeast Asia and Saigon fell in 1975, the Hmong were left exposed to the vengeance of the victorious communist governments in Laos and Vietnam. The Hmong fighters and their families were the first to be targeted. They were viewed as as enemies of the state for having sided with the Americans. Thousands were executed, imprisoned, or forced into brutal re‑education camps. Reports document widespread atrocities, including chemical attacks on Hmong villages, starvation, and systematic reprisals, leading to the deaths of an estimated additional 20,000 Hmong in the years following the war. In the chaos of the communist takeover, many Hmong fled to neighbouring countries or further into the remote mountainous regions—often under fire—beginning one of the largest refugee movements in modern Southeast Asian history.
Although the U.S. had relied heavily on Hmong fighters, their official recognition as American allies lagged for decades, contributing to profound feelings of abandonment among Hmong veterans. The Secret War itself remained classified until the 1990s, further obscuring the Hmong people’s role and sacrifices.
Continuing Struggles and Resilience
Even today, Hmong communities navigate complex social and economic pressures. Declining land availability, limited schooling opportunities, and exposure to globalization place strain on traditional ways of life. International and local organizations have documented instances of inequitable treatment, reduced access to civil rights, and systemic barriers affecting education, mobility, and livelihoods. Despite these constraints, the Hmong have shown remarkable resilience—maintaining vibrant cultural traditions, distinctive languages, and strong community structures. Their commitment to preserving identity while adapting to modern realities continues to shape both the challenges and the possibilities for Hmong communities in Vietnam’s northern highlands.
Founder
Kaitlyn Choi
Kaitlyn Choi was working with the Company of Grace in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, since she was living in Houston, Texas, in 2016. Through them, she was given the opportunity to travel from village to village, putting on nativity plays, leading Vacation Bible School worship, and distributing goodie bags filled with daily necessities. After a few Christmases in Vietnam, Kaitlyn moved overseas to Nigeria and the Netherlands. She was able to return on the same trip from her home base in Wassenaar, the Netherlands, in December 2023. Now in Singapore, Kaitlyn, alongside Baptist Mission Australia, started a new Christian project in Hanoi, Vietnam: The Pig Project.
