The Akha tribe in Laos: Between tradition and modernity | DW Documentary

[@selenadiaz2665]

"My mother in law is old and doesn't want to wear bright colors anymore. She doesn't want to outshine her daughter's in law." Bless the matriarch of that family...59 years old, 15 children, had to make all the daughter in laws outfits, do all the work etc. Nothing can outshine that woman...she's a diamond!

[@gillianmellstrom7812]

Selena Diaz She’s a diamond. Her husband and everyoneother male in the village are demonds.

[@redshoefive3234]

Love that

[@mosijahi3096]

@@gillianmellstrom7812 I guess she sees the women doing all the work and value is in who does the most work.

[@Mella_yt]

Agreed

[@ghiesmith6070]

@@gillianmellstrom7812 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼LT🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ponsunan3808]

Short explanation 8 years ago my mom heard about the twins from The Akha village in the north of Laos, they said its not acceptable for their culture to have twins in the village and they have to kill them and exile the parents away from the village and all what belongs to them must be destroyed and eliminated Due to my mom doesn’t have any daughters so she very wanted to have one. And the parents of the twins didn’t want to kill their kids though.so they came to the city and asked help to save their kids by willing to give them to someone Else . When my mom heard about that, we decided together to adopt the twins. While my mon was on the way up to the north people in the village already did set up the killing ceremony. Police and government officers couldn’t stop them. The twins could have been killed if my mom didn’t come on time. But she made it. We are happy that we saved the twins and raising them. they have become our family members and now they are already 8 years old . They are pretty and charming girls. ❤️

[@jeanetteh.9240]

Saving those girls was a wonderful thing to do. May your family be blessed. 🙏

[@jaaraf]

Thank you for saving those twins. Much love and respect to your family. I'm glad not all twins ended up dying of ritual infanticide.

[@domingodeanda233]

So awesome, thanks for saving their lives.

[@priscanyambura5199]

@@domingodeanda233 May God bless your family and moreso your mum for the compassionate heart 👃

[@healtheworldforabetterplac7574]

OMG I wanna see them in instagram. Such a wonderful story

[@fawziaabdurrahman2251]

These documentaries are so useful. Travel the world without leaving your house...and see how other human beings live.

[@nadjibhabib9426]

There is no better time to Live than this. Grateful for it 🙏

[@SimpleBelieverKJV]

My sentiments exactly!! :)

[@caribmaroon]

So true. Interesting viewing. Also allow you to reflect on your life where you live.

[@talkswithtara7109]

I love them

[@bethroesch2156]

I appreciate docs like this for that exact reason. Know what I notice most often?? No matter the country, govts, races, we all want a lot of the same things- a decent place to live, food, education and medical care, opportunities for our children to do better than we did. We love our families. We have so much more in common than we realize.

[@ariefnugrohobinariffin6249]

I cry when i look at the mother. My mom just like her work so hard so that us, her children can eat n go to school. Mom i love u so much, n tq so much for ur sacrifice for all of us. May u happy there in heaven with our lord. N i miss u so much.

[@acgrant5417]

The man promised to take care of her and she ended up taking care of him and the whole family whilst he just took credit for all her hard work.

[@Sarah.kim1005]

And now he look much younger than her lol

[@barbarasmith6005]

Yeah, it looks like the men sit around on their butts a lot except when doing fun things like hunting, riding a motorcycle, and going to the city.

[@missk8264]

aC GrAnT Yep 😩

[@deannedflrocks5337]

That old man is so conceited, even about his death.

[@claver8336]

She was scamed.

[@undi5507]

Thank God that I'm Iban in Malaysia. For us having twin baby is a big blessing. And I was bless by God giving birth to twin daughters.

[@sozbdulrhmanli3300]

For Kurdish families to if we had Twins, there would be a big party coz its a blessing from God gave you two children

[@chillingwithash3286]

I’m Laotian and I noticed they aren’t speaking lao or Thai. So I researched and found that The Akha are an indigenous hill tribe who live in small villages at higher elevations in the mountains of Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Yunnan Province in China. In Thailand, they are classified as one of the six hill tribes, a term used for all of the various tribal peoples who migrated from China and Tibet over the past few centuries and who now inhabit the dense forests on the borders between Thailand, Laos, and Burma.

[@ZiaQueen505]

They told u all that in the beginning of the video so IDK why u had to research it if they said exactly that

[@davidjohnzenocollins]

@@ZiaQueen505 She added a lot more detail by her research that wasn't mentioned at the beginning of the film.

[@ZiaQueen505]

@@davidjohnzenocollins every thing she said was in the beginning the language they speak where their from what kind of people they are where they live. Every thing. But ok

[@astralyummycandy888]

The youngest son did speak Thai " sue lot" means buy car/ vehicle.

[@hondacivic8122]

yummycandy because he lives in a nearby town right

[@rhiannon0717]

“Because I had so many children, I look much older than my age.” Sis, PREACH. We understand. 😭🤣

[@sozbdulrhmanli3300]

💔 i feel bad for her

[@lornadoonefash2237]

@@sozbdulrhmanli3300 it’s okay, that’s the norm for them

[@thenativist6330]

How about some personal responsibility. Why keep having children the man can’t take care of them?

[@frnkjones40]

Having children doesn't necessarily make you look old. I've seen women with more than six children that look like a college student and while women with one child looks like a catcher's mitt. Sometimes it's genetics, sometimes it's a brutal pounding from a bad relationship.

[@frnkjones40]

@@thenativist6330 That's more like a question for an American

[@ngbb6335]

The father sound narcissist.He keep saying" I've done so much" Yet in whole video. He just sat and bossing ppl around.He looks younger than his wife ,who is 15 years younger than him.She has done so much! Not you!

[@wanyanadaphine5870]

😂😂😂😂True

[@CLAWZGALAW]

Totally!! 🤣

[@rusrs2252]

You can take away the men and the system will collapse, the woman married the older men for security and stability. If she was great she wouldn’t have married anyone.

[@e.crabtree4313]

Most men are cheap, lazy and have a sense of entitlement. The majority of them live off the backs and sweat of women and mooch off their children.

[@danusesobichova7768]

Lazy bastards, all men there.

[@ririemarilyn]

I have mad respect for that elder women. 15 children and still doing heavy work at 59?! Im 33 year old guy and has a 5 year old daughter, she alone took half of my energy. We are so caught up with living in the modern standard, till we forget whats 'needs' really are in life.

[@lilianflower3017]

sobering cat A sobering thought. Western countries don’t know how to eat, live and work. I wish I could be her. Slowed down by calories,poison,cement tv, pollution, artificial noise and lights. Confined space w/o greenery animals and laughter of children playing. Allowed to have sex anytime has taken the thrill away. Maybe some of us can go live with Bigfoot or near them. Make a new village. W/O infanticide due to multiple births or blood sacrifices. ⁉️⁉️⁉️ 🚻🚼🚺🚹♿️🚮 ♾🔁🔀🎭🔂🔄🐾🔃👁‍🗨

[@mseatac]

Bro, I was thinking the same thing.

[@yelenaangeleski3354]

Her stoicism is admirable, but I feel profoundly sorry for her. She was lured into marriage by a much older, manipulative, very selfish and very lazy man in a world in which she could never leave him once she found out by experience what life with him would really be like.

[@caribmaroon]

Admirably strong women, not buckling under the strain, resilient to the T.

[@Picasso.theDOG]

@@yelenaangeleski3354 Sadly I don't think her life would of been much different had she married any other man from the village...

[@izatrini439]

After watching this I am sooo very greatful that I live in a modern world where women can be and do whatever they want.

[@izatrini439]

@Dingle Berry I have no culture and proud!

[@earthrider700]

Where's that?

[@izatrini439]

@@earthrider700 It's a hidden country and a big secret!

[@hallooos7585]

@@izatrini439 I hope you know that everyone in the world follow and practice cultures that some don’t even know in the modern world there are different cultures in the rural and urban areas and you claiming that you aren’t following any culture is BS because everyone has culture in them, like your daily routine is a culture because you follow it

[@sarina5352]

When iam down as a mother, I watch such documentaries just to thank lord for every comfort. How blessed and lucky we are in the west and anyone with basic needs at the finger steps. Life is hell tough for so many out there especially for women in some regions. 😢🙏🏼❤️

[@Allgood33]

Schadenfreude

[@thornyback]

@@Allgood33 You can count your own blessings without feeling any kind of joy over other people's misfortunes. Don't assume the rest of us are like you.

[@Allgood33]

@@thornyback I made no mentioned of any blessedness on my part. May I also add that I am quite disdainful about people counting their blessings on the misfortune of others. Hence the comment of "schadenfreude." It was a response to “one” comment. I didn't assume for the rest, you did, Thornback.

[@lorenzoblum868]

There are sad and happy people everywhere. On remote places as well as in glamorous places...

[@lorenzoblum868]

Big Brother surely appreciate your vision...

[@vanessashimoni6548]

Poor woman looks older than her husband, must be all that hard work and having so many children.

[@dhw14]

That is what I thought!

[@فيامصطفيه]

I was about to say that too... Pity on them really

🧡💛💚❤💘👌👍🤝🤝🤝

[@soniag4516]

Who wouldn't if they had to work from dawn to dusk and pop out babies and raise a family while husband can sit and enjoy life.

[@PAULLONDEN]

Another one of those advanced cultures where women are treated like slaves .....

[@jennifermcdonald5432]

Good grief, the women work their hearts out, while the men just sit and watch. Why? Surely it can’t always have been like that. They literally do nothing!

[@annv.silorio6427]

I find it lazy,they could shre the work and they refuse to change because men might work harder than women.🙄

[@electricslider1091]

@@annv.silorio6427 He didnt even get a piece of wood

[@annv.silorio6427]

@@electricslider1091 true!and look he is dressed wll.but girls are carrying woods and do a lot of works.🙄🙄

[@tangojuli209]

its interesting--the coddling and coveting male children and letting them off the hook like little decorative gods. It appears to be widespread in parts of rural asia like Nepal, india etc.

[@genkiferal7178]

Tracy Chapman has a song "A Woman's Work is Never Done" that describes this. Even in many American homes, a man has a 40 hour work week - and maybe an hour or two a week of yard work - but, the wife and even her daughter must constantly be cooking, cleaning, and playing hostess or babysitter.

[@nrnar]

Much respect to Mother Yeapheun, ... very hardworking and take her responsibility of taking care of her many children very seriously.

[@vaselineagiolax3162]

while their men are the laziest

[@coachskilzz5982]

I came from this life and think the dad needs an ass kicking. The stories I hear from my parents is they worked together to provide for the family.

[@gregnixon1296]

Hopefully the sons will not choose to be as unproductive as their father.

[@chanphi25]

We all have that one grandpa in the locality who brags from sunrise till sunset about his past life no one knows about and does absolutely nothing to help the family

[@thenativist6330]

I don’t.

[@keelyevans7692]

Only by not heading his words and supervision; a teacher with great knowledge is a gift. My grandpa didn't speak too much but he was always there to supervise it was his duty as he saw it, like a lifeguard I supposed

[@RomaInvicta202]

@@huutruong167 and that stops him from working how?

[@TheTaxburden]

He keeps an eye on things. That takes a lot of time and effort.

[@marilynwillett804]

What kind of idiotic statement is that, NO you do not speak for everyone, my grandfather was a hard worker, he wouldn't have taken a dime for free if you dared offer to him.

[@fxdelusions77]

Simply amazing. You never really understand how much life differs, until you spread your wings and move away.

[@priyankaulak5914]

I am a twin watching this makes me really sad. So many innocent twin babies were killed due to their tradition. Hope it changes ❤️

[@Leea209]

Twin are such blessings. I always dreamed of having twin. When I got married I prayed everyday to have twin, but sadly I didn’t. I had two girls a year apart and I dressed them alike as twin until they were teenagers. I couldn’t dress them anymore because they won’t let me. lol... if I was living there, omg I would adopt all the twins!

[@SL33P-WALK3R]

Imagine being the parents, having to already kill the 2 precious babies but then loose there homes and everything in it. On top of it all be outcasts and shunned from you'r village! Who'd care about all that after having to do the unthinkable I guess huh?..wild stuff. Sparta killed off all the non healthy babies.

[@Marieljolie8213]

Im in tears and hurting so bad I am the mother of 2set of twins and out of every 5 people 3 have twins on my family.

[@AmrtAayaan]

Agreed, did you feel sad about those innocent animals and birds too who are being killed as well? In the video and out in the real world too, as long as humans have no compassion for animals there won't be any peace in this f'ed up world.

[@thelikomagallery5080]

It's really sad but the killing of babies happens in the west all the time but somehow it's more acceptable

[@youniverse6841]

"Phiewking has plenty of time to relax. His wife has chores that keep her busy from dawn to dusk" Sums it up real good.

[@gypsy8669]

The old man is so full of himself, blowing his own trumpet... shot down 6 planes, would have been a government official... yeah??? who would you have called to do the work there, your wife?

[@florablueeu6898]

Gypsy hahahahah

[@iantru9929]

Its the culture. Men like to show off. that's also what a human being is. People that haven't really learn class. This is call classless. He mention he wants the biggest funeral. Thats what u do for kings and queens, celebrity,president,any people with power or influence.

[@gurneetd21]

And killed a poor baby chick :(

[@carmenrivera5534]

Lol

[@jeremylinah8078]

Ignorance twina areadouble potion from god these are soway back kkkkk

[@koolar1528]

Woman are always very strong in every culture. Without woman men can not survive

[@kaleem4559]

A woman was made for a man 😉

[@koolar1528]

@@kaleem4559 no they are Not Made for Men. They are Made for this planet to make humans survive. Strong indepedent Men knows how to treate woman. ;)

[@kaleem4559]

@@koolar1528 don't need to be so defensive, I didn't mean it like that, god saw Adam was lonely what was done? That's what I meant

[@samarjitkhundongbam8544]

Absolutely right

[@kevinmartyn1617]

Men would have hair down to the ground too.ha

[@observer1330]

After watching DW’s documentaries I realised that how much I don’t know about our world.Wonderful work DW .The Background music is very beautiful.

[@mondingsky1]

Happy MOTHERS DAY to this incredible Women.!

[@caribmaroon]

Aren't they marvelous! What strong and intelligent women. They just need more of a fair treatment. Able to build structures, constantly working every single day. Such resilience!

[@chrispusthiaine3735]

If the old man's wife fought in the war maybe they would have won.

[@brendanmorin9935]

Period

[@barbarasmith6005]

Weren't the Laotians fighting on the American side? Why did they fight at all?

[@roslyndaniel2687]

@@barbarasmith6005 my dear you need to study the war in Vietnam, they won the senseless war, the American and the french lost the war, period.

[@barbarasmith6005]

@@roslyndaniel2687 The Vietnam War was lost by the Americans. You are mistaken. Where do learn history from? Faux News? Liberty University?

[@roslyndaniel2687]

@@barbarasmith6005 read my posting and yours one more time, then reply to my post again.

[@jondog9]

The father is an egotistical braggart with the maturity of a 10 year old. If they want to live in that squalor, they certainly can. Just don't pass this off as being some kind of a virtuous lifestyle.

[@sookwilson1077]

😂

[@cherylmedeiros6287]

Right! He says he should have the biggest funeral and he worked the hardest shooting down airplanes in the war. He also should've been a high government official if he didn't go back to the village. Then he would have to Work. In the village all he had to do was make babies and probably have his sons watch them while his wife who is 59 looks 80. She looks way older than him for a man 12 years older than her. Wonder what happens if you only have sons early on in the marriage. Wonder if the men help at all.

[@jeremylinah8078]

Very cruel tithe bafalo

[@caribmaroon]

@@cherylmedeiros6287 Shot down which planes, etc.? He's talk a lot of codswallop!!

[@jxstified7558]

When she said her age was 59 I was shocked because Asian people tend to look wayy younger than their age but then she explained she had 15 children and thats why she looks older I was like "ah that makes sense", these people are so hardworking its insane to me.

[@phoenix-dk1me]

It amazes me the laziness of men in these types of cultures around the world smh

[@WapajeaWalksOnWater]

Didn't the South try and leave America over wanting to hold humans against their will for free labor, that they could have done for themselves, but were too trifling and lazy to do. More Americans died in the Civil War than in Vietnam, all because Southern Americans wanted a free ride. Laziness will allow Evil Spirits to Possess You.

[@syd_1876]

if you’re american then you have no place to speak about men being lazy 😅

[@tinaclark4658]

Really? I was shocked that these men just stay home and watch the kids, and are sent out to search for new rice land. In alot of the other documentaries I've watched men do all the hunting and farming and building. I found it verry interesting that this villages women do all the work and the men watch the kids.

[@electricslider1091]

He would work or would not eat

[@electricslider1091]

@@syd_1876 Our American men works and brings food to the table

[@meenawadchuey8992]

When seeing all the children, especially baby i am in tears. The mother have to work all time. The men are too lazy

[@merlem9448]

Are these men not ashamed

[@sozbdulrhmanli3300]

@@merlem9448 no 🤧🤢

[@ty77770]

these men are living the best life because their wives do all the hard work.

[@kolingkri2526]

It's common with many Tribal people of Arunachal Pradesh.

[@oaklandmade007]

It's a bullshit tradition that some lazy azz men created because they didn't want to lift a finger💯 you can't me my man and are able bodied, but I do everything and you do nothing....hell naw....

[@insignificantfool8740]

i can see that lol

[@daw7773]

The men are lazy.

[@rubie5777]

"if I won't have the biggest funeral, i won't rest in peace" 🙄 then don't. 🤧 The man somehow appeared narcissistic to me.

[@hrahselmuanchhana8359]

Yeah, right..

[@TheTaxburden]

His wife will no doubt do all the work for it.

[@lilyparis5149]

Don't forget "he use to work for the government " lol

[@hazel1190s]

I felt that too. He wanted to seem better and bigger on camera.

[@oaklandmade007]

Right! I was like....WTF😒

[@mscris503]

The married men all look young and refreshed while the young married women look old and tired, there skin is hard looking, seems like it’s very unfair because once again men rule.

[@beautyofcountryakhadoi3552]

Yes!! You are right, Akha women have to work harder than men that’s why most Akha mum look older than their husband. I’m Akha thai living in Thailand and In this time Akha in Thailand everything getting change not too bad like that because new gen are not accept the old culture like before. 😁😊 So sorry about my bad English🙏😅

[@lurlinemalcolm1958]

Sad though but not in our world

[@marieniebres4133]

I don’t lake the traditional it’s not fear 😡

[@TerryLestrange]

@@beautyofcountryakhadoi3552 I hope the culture can exist. Just that the men work more and women less would be a great solution I guess. I wish all best to your people! It's unique to live with your family like that and around nature. Something that most people don't have and forget these days.

[@beautyofcountryakhadoi3552]

@@TerryLestrange thank you so much for your wishing for our Akha people 🙏🙏🙏 as I have told you guys, Akha people in Thailand we are much better than Akha people in this video (we are Akha but different type with Akha people in this video , everything’s different but we can still understand language each other ) because we changed a lot from the old culture. Akha in Thailand we are really miss and want to see real life style of Akha like that because very hard to see Akha life like that in Thailand all changed and still keep changing every time . #so sorry for my bad English 🙏😅

[@going2sleep]

My favorite type of documentary. How people live in other countries. I found women working and lazy men taking care of children very unusual and oppressive.

[@kerokero_furogu]

What is oppressive about a matriarchy?

[@Hollylivengood]

@@kerokero_furogu well, it isn't amatriarchy. It's a patriarchy, and the men do nothing and the women do all the work. Because the men are too lazy to be anything but biological sperm downers. Probably explains Vietnam.

[@MyOuchies]

Sounds like we need to go go over there and colonize them, oh waow, that sounds like what happened here 400ish years ago in northeast US, where native women seem to do all the hard work while men were lazy.

[@web-angel]

@going2sleep so you think taking care of kids is "lazy work"?

[@atlguera564]

IlIll lll nothing you said even made any sense.

[@backyardfarming1297]

Well at least the youngest son is really determined to change his life.

[@Choulip_Chouiee]

I am Hmong and I find the Akha People similar to us because of the design on their traditional clothings, their culture and traditions and religion and life style 💕 very similar but soo beautiful ❤

[@dannnsss8034]

Let me guess... You're male?

[@podona6089]

It's cos yall are from the same root. Ikah and Hmong are originally from an ancient Korean kingdom, which is why you share a similar culture. A lot of traditions found in both cultures are similar to a Korean ancient kingdom called Goguryeo, which I think Chinese call Gaoguri. I always wondered why these two ethnicities shared similar traditions and cultures with Korea, but recent studies show that they are genetically similar too. I knew their grammar is similar cos the object comes before verb, which is unusual in other languages, but same as Korean words order. Korean history books record that the ancient Kingdom's ppl were forced to move to a certain part of China after they were taken over by Dang dynasty. There should be more studies conducted on this topic, cos it's quite interesting to see such similarities between them in terms of language, cultures, etc Even you guys call Chiwoo as your forefather, koreans know him as the king of one of ancient Korean Kingdoms that fought against a Chinese emperor. And I heard that Ikah Tribe has their old story pass down from generation to generation that explains where their ancestors are originally from. They say they are originally from the North part where it snows heavily. That's exactly where Gaoguryeo was. That country's territory includes nowaday Harbin, above North Korwa where a winter festival is held every year.

[@yunaher8233]

@@podona6089 Wow, I am amazed with your information. Thank you so much for sharing!!❤

[@podona6089]

@yunaher8233 Plus, I recently took a DNA test, and the results show my mom's side carries the gene similar to Hmong's. As you all know, genetics don't lie or cannot be fabricated, unlike history books. I'm full Korean, born and raised in Korea. The DNA test conducted by one of the most credible organizations 23andMe shows that I'm 99.9 percent Korean. As far as I know, my family tree book says my families have lived in Korea for over 500 years cos I'm biologically related to King Sae Jong (also proven by genetics test) After I got my results back, which says my mom's side mitochondria or chromosome is often found in Hmong's, I realized once again Hmongs are definitely korean descendants from that Korean ancient Kingdom I mentioned above, although I was already pretty certain about them being Korean descent.

[@paxvlog]

Do you guys treat twins the same way too? Would be sad if you did.

[@Dean_Gamiing]

Why does it look like everything the old man saying seems BS 😂

[@يعقوبعمر-س9ث]

hella accurate ::😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Vedo729ify]

Lol cause it is. I was looking at him with a side eye like shiiiid you know you lying

[@blessedbythebest1003]

He’s a show off. Just his personality especially being recorded and heard.

[@jackbeck4]

😁😁😁😁

[@edwardx4979]

The horror of having to kill your twins then come back to the village, have your home burned with everything in it, then having no one talk to you for a whole year just makes me want to take my wife & twins and keep walking out of that forest until I get to proper civilization!

[@romella_karmey]

Yeah sick mindset of these people.

[@janesmith9024]

I was discussing groups in Africa who kill one twin with one of my student children as a moral issue - do we have absolute or relative morals etc If killing one means the other lives is that therefore wrong? And should we impose our culture on others?

[@daniellehall1612]

The fact they killed the babies is enough for me.

[@00ninja00]

Cultural or not, I would think the human nature of being a mother and father would triumph over customs, crazy no one of this tribe would say screw you to the village and leave! If I was ordered to do such a thing, I’d just leave the damn village and move into the city with my twins!!!

[@Solutions3000]

@@00ninja00: "...say screw you to the village and leave" and go where, in that country?

[@MakingDisciples4Jesus]

He said if you marry me I'll take care of you yet look who's taking care of who.

[@Ami_Hime]

AMEN

[@karenannskreation2022]

I know right

[@xamdisharaf5727]

It works both ways, she wouldnt survive in the forest life by herself.

[@Ami_Hime]

@@xamdisharaf5727 she seems to be doing perfectly fine doing all the work in the forest to begin with

[@jorgebarranco8640]

That's a real PIMP right there!!!!

[@gyanwaikhom8527]

The voice overs are just so extraaaa😂😂😂... Like the guy with the thickest and poshest accent is voicing the youngest kid 😂😂

[@sechabamotloli4156]

I also thought that was quite funny lol!

[@V.E.R.O.]

I was looking for this comment!

[@cch9680]

It's not a posh accent at all, it's a very rough Northern English voice. Would have fitted the father better!

[@KaseyKessler]

​@@cch9680Lol or the mother?? With all the work she does she should sound like a Man. Could you see it it makes more sound

[@jennysayaseng4521]

I’m Laotian and I’ve never heard of such thing!! we have twins in our family, we don’t kill them nor think it’s a sin!it’s a blessing to be able have children whether it’s one child or twins they are a blessing!

[@jimiplayscobo5877]

My daughters are twins. Everyone who I've told that I have twins said you are so lucky. I knew I was blessed the first second I seen them :-) Peace

[@thenativist6330]

You look mean.

[@jennysayaseng4521]

@@thenativist6330 🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️

[@BitterBetty76]

@@thenativist6330 you sound like a dolt. 🙄

[@mrbadass8907]

you are being manipulated by the laos media.

[@shikswaJesus5451]

Always a mother will remain to be one in a million....l love mothers❤💞

[@imeldadomingo739]

It seems that everywhere we can see unfair treatment of women. Women work hard while men stay home and look after kids. But its their culture.

[@Vedo729ify]

IKR....THEY HAVE COMPLETELY DID A ROLE REVERSAL. THE LADY SAID HER HUSBAND SAID HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF HER WHEN THEY MARRY. SHE BEEN TAKING CARE OF HIM EVERY SENSE

[@emptytoiletpaperroll9112]

I mean, there are cultures everywhere where there are unfair treatment of men. Men work hard while women stay home and look after kids. But its their culture.

[@bathnoodles2753]

@@emptytoiletpaperroll9112 lmao you think looking after kids, cleaning the house everyday and cooking meals while men work is unfair to the men????

[@robijuli236]

@@emptytoiletpaperroll9112 at least when u have a paid job 1) u actually get paid & 2) u clock out, when ur a homemaker ur working 24/7/365, there’s literally no such thing as a day off..

[@emptytoiletpaperroll9112]

@@robijuli236 Yeah, in my culture/country, men and some women (they're farmers, fishermen) don't take days off so they are under the sun everyday. At least my parents have days off since they work at an organization

[@zakk7930]

I started the documentary thinking “how amazing and how warm these people are “ and then towards the end my viewpoint completely changed! How do you justify killing innocent children?!? And then punishing the parents for it?! I’ve never heard anything like it!

[@gaslitworldf.melissab2897]

That is only one aspect of the culture, which goes to superstition. We may not sacrifice rwins, but we allow our children to spend time alone and predators catch, rape and murder them. Is that a flaw within our culture-hat we can't even protect our children?

[@sharonpersley9245]

Cause its their belief system. Their way of life. Not yours to judge, just to accept and learn.

[@swordysan]

@@sharonpersley9245 No one is obliged to accept barbaric ways of life.

[@paxvlog]

@@sharonpersley9245 That is not right. The moment your belief system hurts someone else, then it needs to change.

[@sharonpersley9245]

@paxvlog see that's where you are wrong. Cause you can go on without saying a word cause your opinion doesn't matter. A societies belief system is for them, not you. It's not for you to have an opinion. The sooner folks get back to behaving as such, the world will be a better place. Have respect for others' way of life. It may not be your choice. No one asked it to be. Move on. Mind your business.

[@movdej4783]

the ONLY lucky person in the family is the YOUNGEST SON not youngest daughter.

[@billyb9067]

mov dej hopefully the educated son changes the culture when he becomes more of an influence in the immediate future

[@web-angel]

That's a matter of perspective isn't it? Many people who have spent their lives in the city are actively seeking places like where the family lives.

[@lojarockstar]

Go and haunt lazy

[@adrianlee453]

The youngest son you look so innocent and cute. You are the hope of the family go for it God bless you, may your dream come true..

[@jasminetonga7519]

define lucky ? sometimes its better not knowing what the outside world is.

[@SiouxieSioux]

The young sons voice over is hilarious. The Older English cockney accent sounds mismatched for this young guy😂

[@Amr_Elkholy]

boris johnson's voice 😂

[@missk8264]

Lol I was thinking the same 🤣😂

[@penparnsailarm7094]

They speak so softly 😊

[@R.U.1.2.]

Yeah, that was the ODDEST inappropriate choice of a voice-over, ever.

[@x-sag3272]

😂😂😂

[@angelobugini6771]

The village above the clouds is a remarkable documentary! I truly did appreciate it so much. Thanks a lot for sharing! Keep it up!

[@carolinesotomayor5307]

I love learning from different cultures. It's amazing and beautiful. They live a simple life with respect for each other and do what they were taught to survive. It's beautiful ❤️

[@besteos]

Right. And killing twins. Strange definition of beautiful. Some cultures need to die out and this is one of them.

[@DOGakaDefenderOfGems]

@@besteos I was just commenting how it's so sad that they don't have room for science in their culture...as that would be the explanation for their twin dillema...ignorance breeds ignorance...it's lovely to see them living a simple life with such respect for the land and so forth, but yes, indeed they need to be educated as to why twins happen...and lose that 'demon' thinking mindset...it's just simple science...and sad that such horrifying rituals are passed along...by no fault of their own...but it's time for change indeed.

[@besteos]

@@DOGakaDefenderOfGems I understand what you mean, but ignorance is an excuse for things that don't go as far as that. That is not a culture that will accept science easily. The only ray of hope in this was the anti fever pill for the sick kid. You don't need school and science to know it's bad. It's part of the human nature to know what's moral. We, as a society get tired of the hardships of capitalism and romanticize every so called simple culture. No, I'm sorry, there is nothing to respect here: a patriarchal culture that "doesn't know better" than to kill twins. Let's not sugarcoat things.

[@fangfangzhou37]

I think it's terrible life. Especially about the terribly culture.,eg Kill twins and the women's decorate who must wear them fall asleep. And the women work so hard for surviing the whole family.

[@jacquietremain5743]

It might lok beautiful but those women r virtually slaves. No thankyou. Very very hard life for them.

[@nicolemonroe4226]

So stupid they can't have twins! They kill them!?! So awful, twins and other multiple births are a blessing not a curse

[@dablaugntximntxub2318]

to people that's uneducated back then, it's a curse not a blessing... i saw it once with a group of african that kills a baby that grew teeth like the upper jaw or lower jaw.. these babies were taken to the outskirt and left for the wild animals to devour.

[@SkengManNZ]

shut up

[@davidvanekho3816]

@@dablaugntximntxub2318 My parents are uneducated but still they are proud and happy to have us(me and my twin brother) it's never a curse for anyone 🤗 I know it's not easy to raise 2 at a time but its better than to have 5/6 and struggle the whole year... Whatever!!! its their faith🤷‍♂️ I'm really feeling bad for the twins and their parents 🤦‍♂️

[@gmaureen]

@@davidvanekho3816 I suspect a woman with twins would not be able to work so it creates a problem for her family. A single child can be strapped to her back, allowing her to carry on working, not so with multiples.

[@mskud9996]

Absolutely right.

[@isabaldeh]

The sleeping arrangements though! How are they making babies almost every 6 months...😂😂😂

[@kbengson9163]

Meeting in the rice fields or in down the mountain or sumt'n.haha

[@Maytember]

@@kbengson9163 very true. My family shares a village with these Akha people and that’s how they do it. Mien, Akha, and Hmong people 😊

[@stizo3066]

@@kbengson9163 🤭

[@stizo3066]

@@Maytember 😁

[@cosmicwisdom999]

I was scrolling looking for this comment. I was thinking the same! How do they make babies then? Out in the forest?

[@alecboley9238]

i usually enjoy DW uploads but this one was especially good. humanity is so beautiful, everyday is worth living when i get to be a part of this. thanks everyone, keep it up.

[@KF-cx8bm]

An total joy to watch, this is the kind of content youtube was made for, I would never otherwise get to see the world with all its divercity, richness and wonder

[@milika3673]

I have watching these in lockdown due to covid makes me feel like I'm traveling whilst being stuck in my house.

[@pRINCESSnARUE]

Other ethnic tribes are somewhat aware of the abandoning of twins and so they do try to adopt those children if they are able to. I have an aunt that was from the Akha tribe and I’m Yao/ Mien. My aunt’s parents adopted her because they couldn’t conceive. I was also told by my grandfather that sometimes Yao/ Mien would go and adopt the unwanted twins as well. And they were well aware of the culture practice.

[@danniealexander4131]

So basically the father is a conman. I'm glad they got the kid medication and not just take him to see a "sharman"

[@pat9139]

This is very ignorant to say. Some see shamans, NOT ‘sharman’, like how Christians see God. It’s a religion and a belief.

[@R.U.1.2.]

@@pat9139 Yes, but they are mainly playing the role of Doctor and overlord...what he says, goes. Shamanism is the cult of the truly uninformed and can cost people their lives, in lieu of modern medicine.

[@colinsmith5879]

@@pat9139 yeah, it's a belief. A belief based on bullshit and ignorance.

[@vonburen888]

@@colinsmith5879 so are most pharmaceuticals and "medical treatments"

[@MohammedAli-hl4mr]

@@vonburen888 found the antivaxxer guy

[@stelun56]

I went here in 2003 and returned in 2007 to witness huge changes. I can't imagine there's anything left nowadays apart from tourism

[@nishatamang4378]

Can’t sleep together but kids are uncountable really 😂

[@lojarockstar]

Your name it's saying u have a lot of kids

[@ishmael874]

I just thought the same thing lol

[@pangetcako7954]

The more they prevent the eager the person wanted to laid.

[@sookwilson1077]

Where Do babies come from ? 😂

[@hamishfar7801]

Nisha Tamang 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@unknownmadds7544]

I saw another documentary about how in different villages in Madagascar twins are known to be bad luck as well. They usually abandon them, or send them to an orphanage. It’s sad, but interesting to know that many people from different ethnic groups believe in similar things. Btw although I’m half Lao, I never knew groups like these exist in Laos. Also interesting fact: my grandmother who was born in Laos told me that in most families the women are the head of the house. So I’m not surprised by this.

[@marcobranco526]

Damn, the old man needs to slow down on bragging.

[@flowertsab9545]

Their way of life is very similar to the Hmong people in Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. From clothes, tradition, work life, and culture. I wouldn’t be surprise if the Akha tribe is somehow related to my Hmong people. An interesting documentary, thanks for sharing.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@HectorDiaz-xk7iy]

The more and more I watched this the more pissed off i got ...these people really need to change a lot of their traditions starting with the women working 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@douglei897]

is just role reversal. the women works like men and the men work like women (men took care of the small children).

[@studymail5946]

Then don’t watch

[@manahilzulfiqar6342]

Personally I would say to change with the twin baby killing tradition

[@meenawadchuey8992]

Me too

[@Page57]

Starting with killing their twins!

[@sookwilson1077]

If someone tell me to live Next to the kitchen , I will run away from the village the next night ! I rather take a chance with the lions or tiger than to Work endlessly For unappreviative family ! We are all created equally !

[@SiouxieSioux]

Sook Wilson 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 riiiiiiiiight!!!

[@khunthathea153]

The father is full of himself.

[@BJ-lg5jx]

khun tha thea He want the biggest funeral when he die... I wonder hw does he knew when he is already dead🤭🤭🤭

[@antrinh9919]

He shoot down several us army's air plane did't he ? :))

[@user-nubiangoddess]

He married a slave

[@mrtee3477]

@@user-nubiangoddess I need you do all the work when we're married.

[@ryad1281]

I did not enjoy that chicks sacrifice

[@IX-fc4po]

they somehow give me very noble vibes. I watched the video till the end and left it after with much respect

[@vr9690]

Why they don’t plant fruit trees around their place so that their young ones has something to eat. Like us, we are born in a countryside but my Mother won’t let us get hungry. She planted fruit trees like guava, banana, coconut trees, mangoes, java plum, spanish plum and many many more.

[@nomzp8655]

I agree with you...... if only men were active enough!

[@studymail5946]

Did they mentioned they were hungry?

[@loveulez]

Stupid comment

[@michelle-yt7qr]

That’s what my father did growing up in Mexico. He planted many types of fruit trees and grew a farm. His family never went hungry and on special occasions eat meat. He left for America and his siblings sold the land off 😒

[@vr9690]

Annie An is it not obvious?

[@YaoZerZ]

I'm a quarter akha, my mom and grandmother still speaks the language. Everytime someone from around town needs a translator for a travel passing by, thry get my mom or grandma. I'm mien and akha, I got to visit mien in laos, next maybe an akaha village

[@wholahayy]

I'm mien!

[@arbs3ry]

You should visit China too, since most Mien(Yao) and Akha are still in China. (Not sure if you're from China or not though, your name confuses me a bit 😃)

[@johnngjapan]

heavy work like fetching firewoods and drying rice under the sun is a man's job in the philippines, taking caring of the children is for woman.

[@jr.dechos7590]

I can't imagine the culture and belief that they do have..here in the philippines our culture about the men and women responsibilities are opposite to them...

[@lilianflower3017]

All About M.E. Gil John LME Thanks for the info. Don’t get offended It’s a documentary of their culture not ours.

[@lilianflower3017]

All About M.E. Gil John LME Kinda sounds like ur belittling parenting. From experience it’s easier to work outside of home then in. But I parented till school age then found work. Either parent can do it. The better parent should stay with child. No egos just try to be Best u can. Do a documentary of ur part of the world.

[@13gladius28]

Baby sitting the childrwn allows to take a rest from hard labor so both side take turns at the hard work with rest periods used to baby sit. Makes logical sense

[@johnngjapan]

@@13gladius28 it could be.

[@adanphu4325]

Very good and peaceful documentary DW 🐁 You should make more documentaries about the animals and things so that they will be treated better!

[@jmaymaylon3343]

Imagine waking up on a crisp bright morning every single day and breathing in fresh air

[@demran17]

you mean air that stinks like animal feces?

[@jmaymaylon3343]

@@demran17 even better 😏

[@paxvlog]

yes and then work from morning till it's time to sleep. That's a sad life bro. It's only the men that are enjoying it, not the women, the twins and their parents.

[@asaflevif]

They don't sleep together as a couple but they somehow manage to have a kid every year! Awesome!

[@wanjiru50]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@shebabwari782]

Every year!😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@kayoualorkyl]

Making love in forest duh lol

[@cherryripe1539]

IVF😂

[@victorpham4467]

Thank you DW Documentary for the special documentary.

[@smode983]

I find it so incredibly fascinating that in today's Amazon/Apple war-torn world that these pockets of these old cultures still exist mostly unchanged. Still crafting their entire lives by hand and hard work. Still living by old world traditions. Absolutely fascinating.

[@murryyambothung8255]

Its nice to see people in diffrent cultural background preserving their cultural heritage Govt shall work more among such tribals

[@richardborromeo8612]

What a culture! Very lazy men!!!

[@LoLuvLo]

Not far from everyone else's culture this new Generation..... lol

[@LoLuvLo]

Not to mention women get the jobs done right lol so they probably want to keep it that way. It will get done and done right the First time.

[@aristobrat4987]

did you not listen to when they explain how the men take care of the kids while the women work.... do you choose to me dumb often ?

[@poopfeast-kg1lv]

@@aristobrat4987 lol wut

[@MC-ii3qk]

I do not think taking care of the younger children makes these men lazy..that is hard work too.

[@bettyh1788]

I am from one of the North East state of India & it amazes me like how our traditions are sooo.. similar in so many ways. I've so many questions that i want an answer about like are we from the same ancestors and stuff.

[@Jaoncruz9276]

We are from similar ancestry

[@Souljahna]

It would be nice if some kind watcher of this video (or a few of them) could set up a fund to help the youngest son continue his education.

[@moniquecambero9207]

Talk about a lost people. Smh. Murdering innocent children in the name of tradition. How lost.

[@Emorydawn830]

USA aborts children everyday

[@chickendinner5572]

@@Emorydawn830 lol for reals, then use their fetuses for science experiments.

[@ab1j00]

this thread is dumb asf

[@anthonypompeo4297]

@@Emorydawn830 amen!!!!👏👏👏👏

[@Diego-ud3nb]

@@Emorydawn830 thats different then someone outside the womb the baby doesnt even feel anything

[@dawnmclean8518]

A village of big lazy men

[@mkiwamagreth08]

mostly indigenous favor men when it comes house works all over the world

[@god5535]

"Feminism"

[@kunzetale]

It's normal even in my village men don't work women do all the house hold chores

[@lightingsword8268]

So true!!!

[@anime2315]

@Nick Miller agree with you

[@geodex9]

If there’s one thing you can say about Phiewking, it’s that he worked for the government!

[@AceKnorr]

And how he wants his funeral to be that extra special ,😂😂😂

[@oaklandmade007]

He probably dug latrines, talking about he was a general and won the war my himself😒

[@thatsanalainthanousay2430]

25 years ago,I used to hang out with good friends whom were telling me that they are not Lao but Akha. But that didn’t stop us to care for each other. I see them as they are Laotian who were chasing out from Lao country just like me. Quite the few families still live in Oklahoma. They are very polite n smart people on Earth.

[@bozm9961]

The music is just so beautiful, so are the folks of this village in the sky ❤❤

[@lidiatanasescu4807]

Yes, the music 🎶🎼 on this documentary is my favorite.

[@bluemoonerheart5316]

It is very important to document their language before it dies. The whole concept of universe and history of their life are carried over in those words. As a linguist, I heard the word for "two" as "hin/hini" which is present in Kuki-Chin languages too from the same Tibeto-Burman family. Wonderful documentary. It's nothing new that giving birth to twins is considered bad and a taboo since medical doctors are not there in their society to handle complications of born twins. The notion is there in some culture too although not practised due to education. The moment we think differently, we are already different people. It's obvious, women work harder than men across cultures. The question is, are we letting them live like us or let them undisturbed? What will happen to Akha identity then ?

[@skbriggs]

As the mother of twins, you'd have to kill me with them. This is actually one of the most disturbing things I've seen recently. I cannot stop thinking about how the women can't take the headpiece off except for a few times a year; that must be insanely uncomfortable.

[@WapajeaWalksOnWater]

I told my grandchildren on January 1st, white Christian plantation owners had to tally up their bills, and if the came up short, they sold our children, and grandparents to pay their bills from the farm. I guess this is something like that huh. You do what you want with humans, and call it culture

[@frimptop.9813]

What's your culture? You whites introduced gay and lesbian in world is that a good culture??????evil talking about someone culture

[@Catlily5]

@@frimptop.9813 Gay people are mentioned in ancient texts from various cultures. Certainly gay people are not only white.

[@shineisle2263]

The world is a wonderful place, with different life stories from place to place.. 🙏🌹❤️🇱🇰

[@RoyPearsonVue1313]

I find it very fascinating that the Akha tribe have similar shamanistic traditions and beliefs like the Hmong who also inhabit Laos. The only vast differences would be the separation of beds for the sons who were married, the tradition of women never taking off their headdresses, eating with chopsticks, the process of the funeral, and most importantly of all, the twin ordeal. Aside from this, the documentary was very fulfilling in a way in which it presents the lives of a certain group of people not commonly known to the opposite part of the world. Please keep up with the outstanding content because you just won yourself a subscriber :)

[@ckrusherkay.y6307]

He wants his funeral to be the biggest😂😂😂😂becoz he has worked for the govt😂😂😂😂😂😂this man!!

[@pamp.phongsay2976]

Sorry but I think this old man after being in the military decided he was going to move to a remote place and tell some crazy story to a girl who was gullible enough to believe him and move to a remote area where nothing could be challenge or question. There is no culture here. He's making things up. I was born in Laos n this sounds to fake of a culture to me.

[@jnkns225]

Cate Wangui lol

[@Be_Nicetoothers]

Remember! He would have become a government official

[@davidnjuguna6828]

Ukwenda uthamire kuu ucio muthee eno uhoro hehe

[@stillmiketheone]

@Cate Wangui huyu mzae amenibore Sana na masifa zake za Gava 😂

[@toodgs]

A sensitive and thoughtful look at the lives some Akha still choose to live, sad that many comments failed to see the value to humanity and themselves that their culture has to them. Sure the boy will leave the village but he will still be Akha. There are also Akha and Hmong who have embraced aquaculture and do well at it, while still being Akha in their hearts and customs for the most part.

[@sunshinepaia]

What a nice documentary, thank you for sharing. The Akha tribe's way of living kind of mirrors the Hmong people. Very cool.

[@koysaeteurn5329]

A fulfilling documentary, nicely done! Thank you for filming and sharing. I find that most cultures, men seem to tend less work, women work the hardest, and though their lives appears to be happy with confinement. Power to the women!

[@donna1616]

I think because confinement in their village does not allow them to compare their life with other people and thus they focus on their own life and and fulfilling their purpose whatever it may be to them.

[@TuskTheRipper96]

I’d really like an update to this documentary, Laos and it’s people are fascinating, and i’ve become invested in this family! 😭😭😭

[@bismarcktarkong6166]

1

[@sechabamotloli4156]

UPDATE!!

[@spizsam]

My grandfather was a shaman in Laos too. He wasn’t permitted to do manual labor or get paid for work. He was only able to take offerings and gifts. It’s probably the same for this man.

[@lidiatanasescu4807]

So his lasiness is explicable now ;) it seems that men rules the trib! Well, I'm thankful that I don't live there!!!

[@jodyross6185]

beautiful documentary, I feel priveleged to meet the woman who work from dawn to dusk.. bless them all..

[@615BlackBarbie]

Lord, the son has came back with Swag and knowledge. 🖤😂

[@chickendinner5572]

Haha, I loved that too. He's determined not to go back. Hopefully he could convince more youngsters to leave behind the old traditions.

[@615BlackBarbie]

@@chickendinner5572 True

[@travelwithnou]

It will take sometime, but thing will change, and I hope for the girls as well.

[@jackiehedge6532]

😂😂😂

[@mariamahmed8946]

That’s what I was thinking too 😂

[@movdej4783]

Great documentary film. Thanks for sharing on youtube.

[@lizzylu4660]

That father has a ego problem

[@shebabwari782]

He is a Chauvinist!!!

[@oldmanriver713]

He shoot down six airplanes ✈️ what you expect 😂

[@PaswanSaheb]

@@oldmanriver713 hahaha And having 2 horses for his last rites as well.

[@marielcadiz4850]

Me too its better to live her in philippines...

[@MrToekidjan]

please watch carefully at 7:57

[@Benewahkayyak]

God give me patience with this husband! He’s actually looking far younger than his wife who is 12 years younger than him. What a life for his wife!

[@cherishforever5149]

I am from NORTHEAST India but their spiritual practices and living ways are so similar to ours. This shows that we had the same ancestors.🙂🙂🙂

[@woodstyleah]

I'm sorry

[@bomnimegu9322]

​@@woodstyleahsorry

[@theinceptiongallery9999]

Kiemlong, my heart goes to you brother. Wishing you all the best compliments for your life endeavor..

[@annferguson3113]

When men and women sleep in different areas of this house and still there are a multitude of children.🤔 Maybe meeting up in the woods between the chores of the women?

[@travelwithnou]

These people consider out door sex embarrassing. it's just a simple way of life. sex can be very quick in the dark in those quiet nights when the man needs it, not as a woman who can choose when they can have sex. The man will come to her when he feels it and it must be done quick, no kiss or passionate moment. they keep it quiet because everyone is sleeping next to each other divided by wooden wall or sometimes just some blanket.

[@merlem9448]

You fought for your country so now you sit m laze around

[@hagipilo5017]

Spending my quarentine visiting laos cambodia and burma on youtube!. thankfully i was able to really visit there before the pendamic started. incredible places! hopefully one day i can visit this village..from what i understand its called Muang Sing

[@luzcruz2919]

😞😳i will never 'complain about my 'way of life again.💪🙏

[@TerryLestrange]

Do they look unhappy? To me they don't. If you were born like this you were also fine with it. We are just spoiled with luxury. They live more with nature and together with their families. I don't consider that a bad thing. Just that the women need to do most of the work I find total bullshit but it's their culture and I respect that. It's their way.

[@olegivanov7236]

@@TerryLestrange so you respecting bull shet

[@anaisjohnson1880]

Ok im like they chillin and i be complaining about not getting chick fil a when i have a house full of Food..👀👀

[@deebeedeebeedeebee5129]

Rural life happy life 😍

[@angeleyes75783]

The thing that amazes me is those that comment saying how the culture is wrong. In western culture we are spoiled and have technology that does most for us. We expect the men to work and women to tend to the small kids. Why is our culture right and theirs not. It is how it is over there. Do not shame learn and appreciate the difference