Pa Chay Vue: The Leader of Rog Paj Cai (1917 – 1921)

After World War I, a time when tax was imposed heavily on the people of Indochina, the Hmong people were among those groups that were forced upon this burden to pay tax. A revered Hmong hero emerged to uphold justice to free the Hmong people from the French colonial oppressor. This hero was called Pa Chay Vue, the leader of Rog Paj Cai. Many of his followers believed that God chose Pa Chay Vue to inaugurate a footing of freedom and a good life for the Hmong people.

Pa Chay Vue was born in the village of Tia Hlo, Dien Bien Phu. As a young man, he married his wife, Qer Yang, and had four sons. During his early years as a local leader, Pa Chay Vue was also known to use the names Cher Cha Vue and Xeng Chong Vue. The name Pa Chay Vue was given to him upon taking a leadership role in retaliating against the French colonial. 

Pa Chay Vue came into power through his divine calling and demonstrating his shaman ability and extraordinary power. Pa Chay Vue was a brilliant leader with a vision and instituted a writing system for his followers. Consequently, many people acknowledged him as the anticipated Hmong leader everyone had been waiting for to unite the Hmong people into a nation. Through this unified vision and leadership, Pa Chay Vue led the Hmong people, using his cleverness and reputation, to counter the French colonial. A nationalist Hmong movement began and drew many followers, both Hmong and non-Hmong, from Laos, Vietnam, and southern China to fight against the French colonial in the Rog Paj Cai (“Guerre Du Fou”) rebellion. As stated in history, at the peak of Pa Chay’s regime, the uprising accumulated 40,000 square kilometers of Indochina.

As the conflict progressed, the French army’s morale weakened and they needed a way to eliminate Pa Chay Vue.  A French-hired hitman and Hmong traitor assassinated Pa Chay Vue on November 17, 1921, near Chong Yeng, Laos. Pa Chay Vue’s life came to an end, but his legacy lives on in many Hmong people’s hearts. Pa Chay Vue emerged as a leader during a time of conflict and uncertainty. His influence and vision extended beyond the battlefield, and he would never forget being a unified figure during a turbulent period in Hmong history.