Khmu ethnic group

Proper name: Kmu, Kho Mu, Kum Mu.

Other names: Xa Cau, Kha Klau, Mang Cau, Tay Hay, Mun Xen, Pu Thenh, Tenh

Population: 42,853 people.

Language: The Khmu speak a language that belongs to the Mon-Khmer language group (Austroasiatic language family).
History: The Khmu are one of the oldest inhabitants in the northwest of Vietnam. There are also some Khmu in the mountains of Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An provinces who immigrated to Vietnam from Laos.
Production activities: The Khmu live mainly by cultivating terraced field, thus they are called "Xa an lua". Outside the mainstream of population who are nomadic, the rest of the Khmu have settled in one place and follow an agricultural cycle. They plant mainly rice and corn, but also pumpkin, bean, and other root vegetables. Their tools includes the axe, knife, hoe, and especially a pointed digging stick used to make holes in the ground when planting seeds. These can be single or double sticks with an iron head, and can be used for many years. Gathering fruit and hunting still play an important role in their economy. Handicrafts include basketry, particularly of household items, and in some places, the Khmu do forging, carpentry, and textile weaving. Trading is mainly done on the barter system, by exchanging goods for goods. In the past, shells called kxoong were used as currency. The Khmu raise water buffaloes, cows, chickens for transportation, food and religious purposes.

Diet: The Khmu like to steam rice and corn, " mixed with cassava. They love to eat spicy, sour, and bitter foods, and grilled foods like cheo, nam pia, ca chua, etc.

Clothing: The Khmu dress in a style similar to the Thai, but a little bit different in their way of decorating the front of women's blouses with linear patterns of coins and snail shells. Today, the majority of Khmu, especially the men, dress in casual clothes like the , Thai and the Viet.

Housing: Today, the Khmu live in the provinces of Yen Bai, Son La, and Lai Chau. Because they are nomadic peoples, their villages are usually small and scattered all over. Their house are built on stilts and made with columns, bamboo wattle walls, and bamboo floors. In many places today, the Khmu have built more permanent houses.
Transportation: The Khmu use carrying baskets with handles placed on the forehead, with a noose for the shoulder. In addition, they also use several kinds of carrying bags. Those Khmu who are farmers use bamboo baskets carried by shoulder poles.

Social organization: The Khmu have close relationships with those in the same family line and those who are neighbors, especially their Thai neighbors. Each village has inhabitants from different family trees. Each of these has a leader. There is already segregation between rich and poor in the village. The Khmu's surnames are from names, of animals, birds, plants; they can be divided into three groups. Those who bear animal's names include tiger, fox, civet cat... Surnames like bird's names include the great horn bill, wagtail, hen, and greater coucal... The group that has plant's names includes garlic, fern, etc. In addition, there are some names of inanimate objects such as pig muzzle, soup ladle...