Raglai ethnic group

Proper name: Ra Glai.

Local groups: Rai (in Ham Tan - Binh Thuan) Hoang, La Oang (in Due Trong - Lam Dong)...

Population: 71,696 people.

Language: Raglai language belongs to the Malayo- Polynesian language group (of the Austronesian language family). As a result of their contacts with other neighboring ethnic groups, the Raglai are bilingual or multi-lingual. The common language plays an important role in communication among the Raglai themselves and with other groups.

History: The Raglai have been living for a long time in the southern-central parts of the country.

Production activities: The Raglai cultivate swidden fields as their primary economic activity, although some wet- rice cultivation is also practiced nowadays. On the burnt- over land, they grow rice, corn, beans, pumpkins and fruit trees. The land is developed using a cha gac, a large kitchen knife or axe. The Raglai use a short and sharp pointed digging stick to make holes for sowing seeds. A small rake is used in weeding, and they harvest their crops by hand. The Raglai practice animal husbandry, raising cattle, buffalo, pigs, and poultry. Blacksmithing and basketry are widespread handicrafts. Weaving is not developed.

Diet: Breakfast and dinner are the main meals. Lunch is often brought to the fields. Soup is cooked with meat, fish and other vegetables - they are the favorite foods of the Raglai. Water is stored in a dried pumpkin gourds, as is pipe- wine. The Raglai chop the tobacco leaves and then wrap the tobacco in corn leaves for smoking, a popular pastime.

Clothing: It is hard to find the traditional clothing of the Raglai. Today, men wear pants and a shirt, women wear skirts or pants with a ba ba blouse (a kind of shirt used by Southern Vietnamese women). In the past, men did not wear shirts, but were attired only a simple undecorated loin cloth. On the traditional festival days, women wear long dresses ornamented with square pieces of red and white colored cloth at the top.

Housing: The Raglai live at high elevations (from 500 - 1000 m) in mountainous and valley areas mainly in the districts of Ninh Son (Ninh Thuan), Bac Binh (Binh Thuan) and other areas in Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong. Formerly, the Raglai lived in the houses built on stilts. Today, houses built directly on the ground are more popular. Some houses are square- shaped and about 12-14m2 large. Other houses are larger and their shapes are rectangular. Raglai building techniques are quite simple they mainly use tree branches and tight rope as lashing. The roof is made by thatch or may leaves. Partitions are made by plaited bamboo and wattle and daub methods.
Transportation: Like other ethnic groups in Truong Son Highlands, the chief means the Raglai use for transporting goods is the gui or back basket with shoulder straps of bamboo or rattan. The gui is made simply and usually has no decorated motifs. Gui are made in different sizes to suit the work and the shoulders of the carrier.

Social organization: The Raglai has many family lineages living in one village. In necessary situations, the "Committee of Elders" will be established which is based upon the approval of each member in the village. Each village has its own chief who is credited as the first to claim and cultivate the land. If many villages are located in the same mountainous area, there will be a mountainous chief as well as village chiefs. Ritual specialists also are well-established. Raglai social relationships in the past and the present are strongly influenced by matriarchal traditions.