Makeshift coffin of dead H’mong ethnic people 

Khau Pay Highlands Village in Hong Tri Commune of Bao Loc District is so poor that relatives of a dead person can rarely afford a bolt of red cloth to cover the coffin.

But Thao A Tu, head of the village, said the 50 households, including 26 poor families, hold to the tradition of celebrating a death, with a modest feast of their staple maize, and sometimes rice. Attendants try to be happy, and dance and drink alcohol until they are drunk.

Local policeman A Ngai said the custom has been in place for centuries and no visitor would dare refuse to drink.

Khau Pau highlands village

“Our traditional funeral has been maintained for years," said an elderly villager.

"We don’t think that dead people will go away forever," he said. "We believe that good people can go to heaven when they die and will be reincarnated to have a better life. So, we find nothing to be sad about but are happy instead."

Young people in the village consider funerals a good time to meet their partner in life.