An ethnic minority group in northern Vietnam has practiced fire hopping, a high-risk yet intriguing dance, for centuries.

The fire hopping fest is native to Pa Then ethnic minority people, residing in Quang Binh District in the mountainous province of Ha Giang. 

The celebration typically runs in the 10th month of the lunar calendar each year when farmers have finished farm work.

The fest is indicative of humans’ boundless mental strength and intrepidity in the face of danger, and is also held to ward off evils, sickness and celebrate good crops.

The festival traditionally begins as a shaman performs a worshipping ritual to deities, with offerings including an iron musical instrument, a chicken, 10 bowls of wine and one stack of votive banknotes.

After the fire is built, the shaman conducts another ritual to put fire hoppers into a trance-like state.

The hoppers then jump into the fire on their bare feet without feeling any burning sensation or fear.

Each hopper generally dances for around four to five minutes before automatically slipping out of the trance.

They then ask the shaman to put them back into the daze and will not go home until the fire dies down.

The festival, which is exclusive to males only, is one of the appeals to tourists who wish to find out about the distinctive cultural traits of Pa Then group and other ethnic minority communities in the northern region.

Below are a series of photos by Nguyen Ba Quynh Anh depicting the festival.

These photos were one of the entries to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper's year-long competition themed “Vietnam – Country – People" concluding in October last year.

Logs are prepared for the fire hopping dance.

Two men kill a chicken and extract its blood as offerings to the deities.

Each hopper generally dances for around four to five minutes before automatically slipping out of the trance.

Offerings include an iron musical instrument, a chicken, 10 bowls of wine and one stack of votive banknotes.

A man is seen hopping on the glowing coal.

Two Pa Then girls in richly-colored traditional costumes pose with a foreign tourist.

Sinh Van Phong, a local shaman, is conducting a rite to appeal to the deities.

Participants are put into a trance-like state by the shaman to keep them from feeling burning sensations or pain.

The feet of a fire hopper do not suffer any burns after the dance.

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