Initial Research on Protestantism in La Hủ People in Mường Tè District, Lai Châu Province, Vietnam

Abstract

Before the year 1987, the ethnic minorities in Lai Châu had practiced traditional religions. In the past twenty years, Protestantism penetrated into the communities of Hmong, Dao, Thai  and other ethnic minorities then it expanded greatly in Lai Châu province. In this context, a part of La Hủ people in the border villages in Mường Tè district also converted to Protestantism (it is called Xè A in La Hủ language). Although the process of evangelization was intermittent and the number of believers was not crowded, but this religion has had a certain impact on the lives of La Hủ people. Basing on actual survey data, this article initially study the process of spreading Protestantism to La Hủ people in Mường Tè district, Lai Châu province and it also suggested some solutions to this issue.