Red Dao girls in their traditional costume. During these days, meat is hung on the smoking-shelf in any family home in Mo Si San Commune, expressing the Red Dao’s hope for abundant foodstuff in the New Year. On the first days of the New Year, the Red Dao ethnic people in Phong Tho District’s Mo Si San Commune of Lai Chau Province practice the custom of " Avoiding the Tiger" with a hope of having a happy life and bumper crop in the New Year. It is a chance for all people in the hamlets to participate in exciting folk games, meet each other and exchange experiences. The commune of Mo Si San is situated in the mountains 1,700m above sea level. It consists of four hamlets, including Seo Ho Thau, Mo Si San, Tan Seo Phin and To Y Phin. According to the elders of the hamlet, the custom of avoiding the tiger has been practiced for many years. According to their belief, on the first day of the New Year, the Day of the Tiger of lunar January, tigers will come to their hamlet to catch chickens, pigs, buffaloes, cows, etc, causing severe human and material losses. Therefore, during the days of avoiding the tiger the villagers will not go to the terraced fields or forests and all farming tools are neatly arranged at a corner of the house and family members are forbidden to tough them. Also it is important to avoid making any loud noise in the house. It is believed that not adhering to these rules will bring misfortune upon the household during the New Year. On these days, the elders usually write scripts, young people participate in folk games, women do the sewing and embroidery and children wear the most beautiful costumes to go out.  Taking childen out. Farming tools and horns are neatly arranged under the altar during the “avoiding the tiger” days. Women sew and embroider. Ly Phu Hin in To Y Phin Hamlet writes the Dao scripts “The New Year, New Happiness, Great Joy and Great Benefits”. The Red Dao people usually place cang around the pig’s neck, believing it will not destroy crops in the garden. Red Dao children play a game of bow and arrows with a hope that they can protect the hamlet. Children are interested in playing football. Young people participate in the game of catching ducks. Story by Huu Tuan - Photos by Thong Thien