Brian Jeffrey
Insights into Din’s Unique Family Cooking Customs
In a recent video, Din shared a surprising detail about her family meals—she serves food on separate plates. This practice stems from her husband’s family’s tradition, which discourages daughters-in-law from sharing plates with their fathers-in-law.
This distinctive custom is one of the primary reasons why viewers are drawn to her TikTok channel. Din hails from the Hmong community, and she lives with her young child in the Ban Pho commune of Bac Ha district in Lao Cai province.
While the production quality of Din’s videos may not be elaborate, their charm lies in their straightforwardness and authenticity. They pique the curiosity of viewers regarding the lifestyle and traditions of an ethnic minority community in a mountainous setting.
Much of Din’s content focuses on simple family meals, often featuring a protein dish alongside a vegetable dish, catering to her family of four, which includes her in-laws, her 4-year-old son, and herself.
Details about Din’s life are limited in her videos; she primarily identifies as a devoted Hmong housewife who tends to her agricultural duties. However, she’s also a preschool teacher working at a nearby school.
Three years ago, after being inspired by watching others, Din decided to create and share her own videos. Initially, she aimed to promote her family’s maize liquor sales. As she received encouraging feedback, her perspective shifted, and she began to enjoy showcasing her family’s life, making liquor sales a secondary focus.
Her meals typically feature a selection of pork or eggs paired with fresh vegetables. One notable video highlights a shrimp dish, a luxury item at VND100,000 for just ten shrimp.
Din’s approach to cooking is straightforward, often involving roasting or frying pork and boiling vegetables, all enjoyed together as a family in their kitchen.
She mentioned that her husband works in a factory far from home and visits only three to four times a year.
Din attributes her growing audience to her openness, which not only satisfies curiosity about the lives of mountain communities but also provides warmth and connection for those who have left their highland homes for work.
