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Population / Ethnics
Population (2000): 78.5 million
Surface area: 331.690 sq. km
Population per sq. km: 241.2
Population growth: 1.3 %
Life expectancy (1999): 69 years
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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
of the Vietnamese Ethnic Minority Groups
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
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