Tho ethnic group

Proper name: Tho.

Other names: Nha Lang, Muong, Con Kha, and Xa La Vang.

Local groups: Keo, Mon, Cuoi, Ho, Dan Lai, Ly Ha, and Tay Poong.

Population: 51,274 people.

Language: Tho language belongs to the Viet-Muong language group (of the Austroasiatic language family).

History: The Tho live in a region that is the crossroads of different migration flows. Due to historical events of the last few centuries, Muong groups from western Thanh Hoa province traveled squth and met the Viet of the coastal districts of Dien Chau, Quynh Luu and Thanh Chuong who went north to integrate with local residents, known as the ancient Viet. These migrating groups, together, formed the Tho community.

Production activities: The Tho live mainly on the cultivation of flat-terrain swidden fields, although a small number cultivate submerged fields. Tho agricultural techniques are fairly well-developed, most evident in their earth-working techniques (using skillful ploughing called cay non) and their intensive farming practices. Their main food is rice, followed by manioc and corn. Among the Keo, Mon and Cuoi subgroups, hemp is grown and plays an important economic role. Fishing is also very popular among the Tho. Hunting and gathering also contribute considerably to their economic livelihood, though it is limited to only a few localities.

Diet: Formerly, the Tho mainly ate sticky rice, but nowadays they have shifted to ordinary rice. In between crop periods and during times of food shortages, the Tho rely on tubers, vegetables and fruits gathered from the forests.

On festival occasions, the Tho make square cakes (bank chung), rice cakes (bank day) and glutinous rice cakes dyed black in a concoction of leaves (bank gai).

Clothing: Men wear clothing similar to that of the Viet that includes white trousers with a rolled waistband, a long black robe, and a violet-colored headdress. Women of the Lam La area typically wear a black cotton dress, with two lines of colored thread being sewn from the waistband to the cuffs, and a five-paneled brown or white blouse. In Quy Hop area, Tho women's clothing is bartered or sold to the Thai. These include indigo-dyed cotton dresses adorned with horizontal stripes which form various circles around the body when worn, as well as striped white blouses with tight sleeves like those worn by the Viet people. Tho women generally wear a square of white cloth as a headdress in the style of the Muong, and a long, white piece of cloth serving as a mourning ribbon like those of the Viet.

Housing: Tho residences are concentrated in the western districts of Nghe An Province. They live in large villages, in tightly-knit communities. The Tho traditional house is built on stilts, with walls made of bamboo-woven panels or wooden planks. In some localities, walls are erected by arranging wooden logs. Nowadays, Tho house styles are shifting from stilt houses to those built directly on the ground like the local Viet's houses.

Transportation: There are two main ways that the Tho transport their goods. Smaller items are transported in baskets that are carried or suspended on carrying poles. Larger items are transported by ox and buffalo carts that are made entirely of wood, including the chassis, frame and wheels.

Social organization: The Tho's smallest administrative unit is the village, headed by a chief. The village chief is re-elected each year and is responsible for managing tax collection and other public affairs.

Patrimony is dominant in small families. The relationships between family and village members are based on mutual support.

Despite living amongst other groups, there is not much intermarriages between the Tho and other local groups. There is also no discrimination among Tho subgroups.