Vietnam Ethnic Groups – This is our People.

One of the greatest things about Vietnam is the abundance of diversity that you will notice through a tourist’s perspective.

Diversity, you ask? To exemplify how diverse Vietnam actually is one would just have to look at a series of lists: cuisines, distinct creatures, exotic flowers, excursion sites, and so on and so forth. Speaking of different species, on September scientists discovered 163 new species ranging from Vampire fishes and Lipstick geckos to Bird-eating frogs in the Mekong River which flows through Southern parts of Vietnam. Don’t be too perplexed, Vietnam never unceasingly forgets to leave us enticed and always on our feet. Don’t close Vietnam’s book too soon for we may all once again be surprised.

Here are the numbers:

Species of Plants: 9782

Species of Animals: 381

Vietnamese Cuisines: Infinite.

Things to do in Vietnam: Infinite.

But forget the numbers, let’s just look at our people. Everyone always talks about being Vietnamese, but did you know that there are 54 recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam (many of which a typical Vietnamese may have never heard of). These 54 different ethnics are just as Vietnamese as you are, but unconventionally unique in their lifestyle, culture, cuisines, and traditions. According to the 1999 Census the largest ethnic groups are: Kinh (Viet) 86.2%, Tay 1.9%, Tai Ethnic 1.7%, Muong 1.5%, Khmer Krom 1.4%, Hoa 1.1%, Nùng 1.1%, Hmong 1%, others 4.1%. Let’s take a journey into lives of the ‘other’ 4.1%.

In reading through you will feel refreshed as you look into the faces and lives of our “different, but same” people. The  humble thought, “They are Vietnamese, just like me,” may come across your mind and what started as a simple “Oh I wonder what this article is about” curiously will give way to a new understanding as well as perspective. By the end of this photo essay you will discover, just as I have, how multi-ethnically rich and diverse Vietnam is and in the end have an objective pride for being who you are -Vietnamese.

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Gia Trieng

Location: Central Highlands region of Vietnam

Population: 30,243

Language: Mon-Khmer language.

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Phù Lá

Location: Lào Cai province (Northeastern Vietnam)

Population: 9,046

Language: Tibeto-Burman family

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Rom Ma

Population: 352

Language: Central Bahnaric branch of the Mon-Khmer family

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E De (or Rhade)

Location: Southern Vietnam

Population: 270,348

Language: Austronesian language family

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Pu Péo

Location: Hà Giang

Population: 705

Language: Qabiao, Vietnamese, Chinese

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O Du (O’Du)

Location: Ngh? An province (North Central Coast region)

Population: 570

Language: O’du (Khmuic language)

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Lo Lo (Yi)

Location: Hà Giang, Cao B?ng, and Lào Cai provinces (Northeastern Vietnam)

Population: 3,300

Language: Yi (Tibeto-Burman language)

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Xinh Mun (or Con Pua, Pu?c, or P?a)

Location: S?n La and Lai Chau (Northwestern Vietnam)

Population: 18,018

Language: Khmuic languages

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Stieng (Xtieng)

Location: Binh Duong Province and Dong Nai Province  (Southeastern Vietnam)

Population: 6,059

Language: Bahnaric group (Mon-Khmer languages)