Lu ethnic group

Proper name: Lu, Thay, or Thay Lu.

Other names: Phu Lu, Nhuon, Duon.

Local groups: In Vietnam, there is only the Black Lu (Lu Dam) in Ban Hon village, Phong Tho district, Sin Ho (Lai Chau). This is to be differentiated from the White Lu (Lu Khao) in Sip Song Pan Na of China.

Population: 3,684 people.

Language: The Lu language belongs to the Tay-Thai language group (Tai-Kadai language family).

History: The Lu have been in the Xam Mun area of Dien Bien province at least since the 11th or 12th century. Here, they had built the Xam Mun palace (Tam Van) and had cultivated many fields. In the 18th century, because of war, the Lu had to evacuate to many other places; a small group moved up to live in the Phong Tho mountain, in Sin Ho.

Production activities: The Lu invented a traditional irrigation canal that brings water to their fields. They cultivate sticky rice, with the technique of sowing rice seeds twice a year. In some places, they are not yet accustomed to using green fertilizer, manure, and garbage to fertilize the field. They practice slash and burn agricultural methods, and they use the digging stick to make holes for seedlings, and to plough the fields -techniques which they learnt from the H'mong. Textile weaving is well-developed. They also make brocade with beautiful designs. Moreover, the Lu are famous for hammering swords. Gathering fruit, hunting, and especially fishing are common activities.

Diet: The Lu like to eat sticky rice, foods made from fish, especially a salad dish made with raw fish. Pigs, water buffaloes, and cows are only killed on festival occasions; their meats are usually not for sale.

Clothing: Lu women wear button-up indigo shirts; their skirts are also made of black indigo cloth, decorated with an additional layer of embroidered designs. They wear silver necklaces with silver locks. On their heads, Lu women wear turbans, which are worn slanting to the left. The front of these headdresses are decorated with lengthwise patterns. Lu women also blacken their teeth and wear silver or brass bracelets. Men also wear black indigo clothes. Their shirts have braid cloth buttons, two pockets on the flaps, and one pocket on the left shoulder. On their trousers, from the knees down, there is decorative embroidery. They wear black turbans, and also blacken their teeth like the women. Men usually wear swords, not only for protection purpose, but also as a kind of accessory.

Housing: The Lu live in Phong Tho, Sin Ho, Dien Bien districts of Lai Chau province.
They live in stilt houses with four layers of roof, which are lengthened to become verandas for storing looms and other weaving tools. There are bed covers, mattress, mosquito nets, and curtains in their houses; kitchens are in the middle of the house.

Transportation: They use carrying baskets, water buffaloes, and horses, to transport their goods.

Social organization: Neighborhoods plays the most important role in community relations. The Lu have the custom of helpings other families in communal work, such as when building new houses and during big occasions like weddings and funeral. Two family trees - Pu Da (paternal side) and Ta Nai (maternal side) - are the most important.