 Home Geography / Map Population / Ethnics Climate History Culture Education Customs / Habits Calendar / TimeTravel Contact Us Population / Ethnics Population (2000): 78.5 million Spring festival Ethnic Groups Vietnam is a multi-nationality country with 54 ethnic groups. The Viet (Kinh) people account for 87% of the country�s population and mainly inhabit the Red River delta, the central coastal delta, the Mekong delta and major cities. The other 53 ethnic minority groups, totaling over 8 million people, are scattered over mountain areas (covering two-thirds of the country�s territory) spreading from the North to the South. Among ethnic minorities, the most populated are Tay, Thai, Muong, Hoa, Khmer, Nung... with a population of around 1 million each, while the least populated are Brau, Roman, Odu with several hundred people each. The Viet people succeeded in establishing a centralized monarchy right in the 10th century. The Cham people once boasted a flourishing culture early in the history. The Tay, Nung, and Khmer peoples had reached high levels of development with the presence of various social strata. The Muong, H�mong, Dao, Thai peoples... gathered under the rule of local tribal heads. Many ethnic groups divided their population into social echelons, especially those who lived in mountainous areas. A number of ethnic minorities had mastered some farming techniques. They grew rice plants in swamped paddy fields and carried out irrigation. Others went hunting, fishing, collecting and lived a semi-nomadic life. Each group has its own culture, diverse and special. Beliefs and religions of the Vietnamese ethnic minority groups were also disparate from each other. However, a fundamental solidarity among ethnic groups has been established on top of this difference as a result of a centuries long cooperation on the soil of Vietnam. Right in the first century of the history, a mutual supplement in economic relationship between lowland people and mountainous people was formed. This solidarity had been unceasingly strengthened during wars of resistance for defending the country. Through the shared struggle for defending and building of the country and the mutual assistance for co-existence and development, a common community between the Viet people and other ethnic minority peoples had been established and continuously consolidated and developed. Nonetheless, an evident gap in the material and moral life has indeed still existed between peoples living in the deltas and those living in mountain areas as well as among ethnic minorities themselves. The Vietnamese government has worked out specific policies and special treatments in order to help mountainous people catching up with lowland people, and made great efforts to develop and preserve traditional cultural identities of each ethnic minority group. At present, the programs of providing iodized salt for remote villages, equipping village�s health care and hygienic station, fighting malaria, building free schools for ethnic minority children, settled agriculture and fixed residence, and projects of creating new writing scripts for minority peoples and studying and developing traditional culture of each ethnic minority group... have obtained satisfactory results. Composition and Distribution No. Name Population Other names Sub-groups Locations of inhabitation 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 Kinh 55,900,000 Vi�t All over the country 2 T�y 1,190,000 Th� Ng�n, Ph�n, Thu lao, Pad� H� Giang, Tuy�n Quang, Lao Cai, Y�n B�i, Cao B�ng, Lai Ch�u, B�c Th�i, H� B�c 3 Th�i 1,040,000 T�y T�y Khao (White Th�i), T�y ��m (Black Th�i), T�y Chi�ng or T�y M��ng (H�ng T�ng), T�y Thanh (Man Thanh), T�y M��ng, Pu Thay, Th� �� B�c, T�y M�c Ch�u (T�y �eng) S�n La, Lai Ch�u, Ngh� An, Thanh Ho�, Lao Cai, Y�n B�i, Ho� B�nh, L�m ��ng... 4 M��ng 914, 000 Mol, Mual, M�i M�i Bi, Ao T� (�u T�) Ho� B�nh, Thanh Ho�, V�nh Ph�, Y�n B�i, S�n La, Ninh B�nh 5 Hoa 900,000 Kh�ch, T�u, H�n Tri�n Ch�u, Ph�c Ki�n, Qu�ng ��ng, Qu�ng T�y, H�i Nam, X� Phang, Tho�ng Nh�n, H� Ki�n Giang, H�i Ph�ng, V�nh Long, Tr� Vinh, Qu�ng Ninh, ��ng Nai, H�u Giang, Minh H�i, Ho Chi Minh City 6 Khmer 895,000 Mi�n, Cur, Cul, Th�, Khmer-orrigin Viet, Khmer Kr�m H�u Giang, V�nh Long, Tr� Vinh, Ki�n Giang, Minh H�i, T�y Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, S�ng B�, An Giang 7 N�ng 705,000 N�ng Xu�ng, N�ng Giang, N�ng An, N�ng Ph�n S�nh, N�ng L�i, N�ng T�ng Sl�n, N�ng Ch�o, N�ng Qu� Cao B�ng, L�ng S�n, B�c Th�i, H� Giang, Tuy�n Quang, H� B�c, Qu�ng Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, L�m ��ng, ��c L�c, Laos 8 Hmong 556 000 M�o, Meo, Man, Mieu Toc Meo Hoa, Meo bleu,Meo rouge, Meo noir, Na Mieo, Meo blanc Ha Giang, Yen Bai, Lao Cai,Lai Chau, Son La, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Hoa binh, Bac Thai9 Dao (Zao) 474 000 Man, Dong, Trai, Ziu, Mien, Kiem, Kim Mun Zao Dai Ban, Zao Do (rouge), Zao Coc Ngang, Zao Coc Mun, Zao Lo Giang, Zao Quan Chet, Zao Tam Dao, Zao Tien, Zao Quan Trang, Zao Lan Tien, Zao Ao zaiHa Giang, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Bac Thai, Lai Chau, Son La, Vinh Phu, Ha Bac, Thanh Hoa, Quang Ninh, Hoa Binh, Ha Tay10 Giarai 242 000 Moi, Chrai Cho, Hdung, Arap, Mdhur, TbuanGia Lai, Kong Tum, Dac Lac11 �d� 183 000 De, Moi Rad�, Rhad�, Ed� Ega, Anak Ed�, Kpa Adam, krung Ktul, Dli�, Ru�, Blo, Epan, Mdhur, Bih,Kdrao, Dong Kay, Dong Mak, Ening, Arul, Hning, Kmun, Ktl�Dac Lac, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa12 Bana 137 000 Bnam, Roh, Kon, Kd�, Ala Cong, Kpang Cong Tlo, Glar, Rngao, Krem, Geloeng (Yloeng)Kon Tum, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen13 San Chay 114 000 Man, Cao Lan San, Chi, Hon, Chung, Son Tu Cao Lan, San ChiBac Thai, Tuyen Quang, Quang Ninh, Ha Bac, Lang Son, Vinh Phu, yen Bai14 cham 99 000 Chiem Thanh, Cham Pa, Hoi Cham Hroi, Cham Chau Doc, Cha Va, Ku, Cham PongNinh Thuan, Binh Thuan, An Giang, Ho Chi Minh Ville, Binh Dinh, PhuYen, Chau Doc, Khanh Hoa15 Sdang 97 000 Kmerong, Hdang, Konelane Brila Steng, Tra, Mename, Halang, Casong, Chau, Tatch�, (Tatchi)Kong Tum, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Quang Ngai16 San Ziu 94 630 Tchai, Tchai Dat, San Zo, Man Kwan Cok, Man Vay Xer Quang Ninh, Ha Bac, Hai Hung, Bac Thai, Vinh Phu, Tuyen Quang17 Hr� 94 000 Moi Da Vach, Chamr�, Moi Luy, Thach Bich, Moi Son Phong Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh18 K'ho 92 000 Sr�, Nop (Tu Nop), Kzon, Chil, Lat (Lach), TringLam Dong, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa19 Raglai 72 000 Orang, Glay, Roglay, Radlay, Moi Raclay (Ray), Noong (Laoang)Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong20 Mnong 67 000 Gar, Chil, Rlam, Preh, Kuenh, Nong, Bu Dang, Prang, Dip, Biet, Si To, Bu DehDac Lac, Lam Dong21 Tho 51 000 Kuo, Mon, cuoi, Ho, Dan Lai Ly Ha, Tay Poong (Con Kha, Xa La Vang)Nghe An, Thanh Hoa22 Xtieng 50 000 Xa Dieng Moi, Ta Mun Song Be, Tay Ninh, Lam Dong, Dac Lac23 Khmu 43 000 Xa Cou, Bu Thenh, Tay Hay, Viet, Cang, Kha Quang LamSon La, Lai Chau, Nghe An, Yen Bai24 Bru Van Kieu 40 000 Van Kieu, Mang Koong, Tri, Khua, BruQuang Binh, Quang Tri25 Zay (Gi�y) 38 000 Nhang Giang, Sa Nhan, Pau Thin, Chung, Cha, Pu Nam Pu Na (Cui Chu ou Quy Chau)Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Lai Chau26 Ktu 37 000 Katu, Katang, Moi, Cao, Ha Phuong, KantuaQuang Nam, Da Nang, Thua Thien Hue27 Gietrieng 27 000 Giang Ray, Brila, Katang, Moi, Doan Gi� (Dgieh, Tareh), Trieng (Treng), Ve, Lave, Panoong (Bnoong)Quang Nam, Da Nang, Kong Tum28 Taoi 26 000 Toi Oi, Tahoi, Ta Oih, Ta Uat (Atuat) Paco, Bahi, CantuaQuang Tri, Thua Thien Hue29 Ma 25 000 Chau Ma, Cho Ma, MoiLam Dong, Dong Nai30 Co 23 000 Trau, Cua,Moi, Col, Cor, Khua Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, Da Nang31 Chro 15 000 Chauro, Zro, Moi Dong Nai32 Ha Nhi 12 500 U Ni, Xa U Ni, Ha Nhi Gia Ha Nhi Co Cho, Ha Nhi La Mi, Ha Nhi DenLai Chau, Lao Cai33 Xinh Mun 11 000 Puoc, Pua, Xa Za, NghetSon La, Lai Chau34 Churu 11 000 Chru, Kru, Moi Lam Dong, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan35 Lao 10 000 Lao Boc, Lao Noi Son La, Lai Chau36 Lachi 8 000 Tho Den, Cu T�, Xa, Lati, Man Chi Ha Giang37 Phu La 6 500 Bo Kho Pa (Xa Pho), Mun Di Pa, Phu La Den, Phu La Hoa, Phu La Blanc, Phu La Han, Chu La Phu LaLao Cai, Lai Chau, Son La, Ha Giang38 La Hu 4 000 Khu Sung (Co Sung), Kha Quy (Xa Quy), Xa Toong Luong (Xa La Vang), Xa PuoiLai Chau39 Khang 4 000 Xa Khao, Xa Don, Xa Tu Lang Khang Xua, Khang Don, Khang Zong, Khang Hoc, Khang Ai, Khang Bung, Khang Quang LamLai Chau, Son La40 Lu 3 700 Lu, Zuon, Nhuon Lai Chau41 Pa Then 3 700 Pa Hung, Man Pa Teng, Tong Tong, Meo LaiHa Giang, Tuyen Quang42 Lo Lo 3 200 Mun Zi, O Man, Lu Loc Man, Zi, Qua La, La La, Ma Zi Lo Lo Den, Lo Lo HoaHa Giang, Cao Bang, Lao Cai43 Chut 2 400 Xa La Vang, Cha Cui, (Tac Cui), Tu Vang, Pa Leng Sach, May, Ruc, Ma Lieng, Arem, Slang, UmoQuang Binh44 Mang 2 300 Mang U, Xa La Vang, Nieng O, Xa Mang,Xa Cang Lai Mang He, Mang GungLai Chau45 Klao 1 500 Klao Blanc, Klao Bleu, Klao RougeHa Giang46 Bo Y 1 450 Chung Cha, Trung Gia, Pau Y, Pu Zi Bo Y, Tu ZiHa Giang, Lao Cai47 La Ha 1 400 Xa Khao, Xa Cha, Xa La Nga Khla Phlao, La Ha UngYen Bai, Son La48 Cong 1 300 Xam khoong, Xa Xeng, Xa, Xa CoongLai Chau49 Ngai 1 200 San Ngai Xin, Le, Dan, Khanh Gia, Hac Ca (Xec)Quang Ninh, Ho Chi Minh Ville, Hai Phong50 Si La 600 Cu De Xu Lai Chau51 Pu Peo 400 Ka Beo, Pen Ti Lo Lo, La Qua, Man Ha Giang52 Brau 250 Brao Kong Tum53 Rmam 250 Kong Tum54Oedu100Tay HatNghe AnTop | Index |
