In the 10,000 foot mountains that border
Vietnam with China, "ethnic minorities,"
as these natives are called, go on with life
as they have for centuries -- many don't
even know that they are Vietnamese.

But modern times are calling, in small
ways. Some tribesmen now trek down
to Sapa, Vietnam's most elevated town,
to trade firewood and handicrafts for
band-aids and western-style haircuts.
The savviest are picking up English,
French and even a bit of Vietnamese.