Po, June Y. T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6124-8235, Langill, Jennifer C., Turner, Sarah and Michaud, Jean (2020) Distilling culture into commodity? The emergent homemade alcohol trade and gendered livelihoods in Upland Northern Vietnam. The Asian Pacific Journal of Anthropology, 21 (5). pp. 397-415. ISSN 1444-2213 (Print), 1740-9314 (Online) (doi:10.1080/14442213.2020.1846207)

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Abstract

Ethnic minorities in the uplands of northern Vietnam are experiencing rapid state- and market-induced economic and agrarian transformations. These communities are having to make important livelihood adaptations to adjust, while living at Vietnam’s economic and political margins. We analyse one such market-induced transformation that some upland communities are deciding to engage with, connected to an increasing demand for locally distilled alcohol. Against the backdrop of traditional production for domestic consumption, distilled alcoholic beverages are now (re)emerging as a cash-earning opportunity. Drawing on interviews and observations with ethnic minority Hmong and Yao women and men in Lào Cai Province, we analyse the degree to which household members have engaged with this
market opportunity and the often complex reasons behind their choices. We reveal how an apparently simple shift in scale of a customary activity generates nuanced cultural, gendered and generational debates that, at times, are at odds with mere
profitability.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Commoditisation; Dao; distilled alcohol; ethnic minorities; gender; Hmong; livelihoods; tourism; Vietnam; Yao
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure H Social Sciences > HF Commerce
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Livelihoods & Institutions Department
Related URLs:	Publisher
Last Modified:	09 Nov 2021 12:21
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/30493

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