Name of ethnic group: Kinh (Viet). Population: About 65.8 million people (Year 1999). Locality: These people live in all provinces but are densely clustered in the delta areas and urban centres.  Customs and habits The Kinh ancient villages are usually surrounded by bamboo groves. The communal house is a place for meeting and conducting common ritual ceremonies. The Kinh also live in mud houses. They enjoy the habits of chewing betel, smoking water pipes and cigarettes, drinking tea, and eating ordinary rice. The husband is considered the head of the family. Children take the family name of their father. The eldest son is responsible for the worship of dead parents and grandparents. Each family lineage has a temple for their forefathers and the head of the family lineage handles all common affairs. Monogamy is observed during marriage. The family of the man approves the marriage and organizes the wedding for him. After the wedding party, the bride goes to live with her...

Name of ethnic group: Kho Mu (Xa Cau, Mun Xen, Pu Thenh, Tenh, and Tay Hay). Population: 56,542 people (Year 1999). Locality: Nghe An, Lai Chau, Son La, Thanh Hoa, and Yen Bai provinces.  Customs and habits The Kho Mu still live a nomadic lifestyle. Their houses are built with temporary and rudimentary materials and have very little furniture. The husband must live with his wife's family for one year after marriage. Marriage between the same lineages is strictly forbidden. The Kho Mu believe in the existence of spirits. The heavens, the sound of thunder, the earth, the forests, and the field are all assisted by spirits. The worshipping of spirits of the village and of ancestors is very common. They also pray for bumper harvests and good annual production. Culture The Kho Mu language belongs to the Mon-Khmer Group. A rich heritage of tradition and culture can be found in this ethnic group. Costumes The garments of the Kho Mu resemble the Thai group, but the women's ornaments...

Name of ethnic group: La Chi (Cu Te and La Qua). Population: 10,765 people (Year 1999). Locality: Xin Man District in Ha Giang Province, and Muong Khuong and Bac Ha districts in Lao Cai Province.  Customs and habits The typical La Chi house is built on stilts has three apartments and an ancestral altar in the largest apartment. Each household has its own drums and gongs which are used in ritual ceremonies conducted by the head of the family lineage. Children take the family name of their fathers. As part of the wedding presents, the groom's family has to offer the amount of money that was needed to pay for the bride's upbringing. The 7th Lunar Month Festival is the largest and merriest activity of the La Chi culture. Culture The La Chi language belongs to the Kadai Group. Young boys and girls like to sing "nica" songs. The traditional musical instruments of this group include drums, gongs, three-stringed zithers (dan tinh), and lip-organs made from tree leaves. Popular games...