Viet ethnic group

Other names: Kinh.

Population: The Viet have their own language and writing system. Vietnamese belongs to the Viet-Muong language group (of the Austroasiatic language family).

History: Since ancient times, the ancestors of the Viet had settled in northern and central Vietnam. Throughout their history, the Viet have played an important role of drawing together and uniting all the other ethnic groups to build up and to protect the nation.

Production activities: Viet agriculture is based on wet rice cultivation, and was developed very early. Through many, many generations of working in the rice fields, the Viet's ancestors summarized all their experience of what needed for a crop to be successful in just couple of profound words: "First water, second fertilizer, third hard work, fourth good seeds." The grand system of dikes and dams which the Viet have today serve as eloquent proof of their forefathers' persistent spirit in conquering hardships to live and to produce. Raising pigs, poultry, birds, and fishing are also fairly developed among the Viet. The water buffalo is an especially precious animal to the farmer. The Viet are renown for their talents and skills in producing a wide variety of handicrafts. More than few handicraft villages have parted from the work of farming. Village markets, fairs, and district markets are busy. Today, metropolitan areas and industrial sites are developing more and more as the nation industrializes and modernizes.

Diet: "Rice, green tea" are said to form the basic everyday food and drink of the Viet people. Sticky rice is only used on festival occasions. Fish, vegetable or crab soups often appear as part of the daily meals. The Viet are especially fond of eating sauces made from shrimp, fish, and crab, and pickles made from green onions, mustard greens, eggplant, etc. Sweet soya sauce and other spices like chili, garlic, ginger are popular. Alcohol is consumed at parties and festival occasions. In the past, eating betel nuts, and smoking tobacco by water pipes were popular, but were also part of Viet customs and rituals.

Clothing: In the olden days, a Viet man used to wear chan que trousers (a kind of wide- legged pants that looked something like a skirt), with a brown shirt (in the North) or a black shirt (in the South). Traditionally, the Viet did not wear shoes. On special occasions, white trousers, a long black shirt, a pleated-ready-to-wear turban, and wooden sandals were worn. Viet women traditionally wore black skirts and brown blouses. In the North, they wore black scarves. On festival occasions, Viet women wore the traditional ao dai, which has remained popular today. In the winter, both men and women wore double layer cotton jackets. Dresses for different ages were distinguished not by style, but usually by different colors and sizes. The quality of textiles distinguished the clothing of the wealthy from those who were less affluent. Only the wealthy wore jewelry.
At the beginning of the century, Viet men in rural areas were seen to wear only loincloths.

Lifestyle: The Viet usually live in one story houses. Their houses were combinations of living quarters - yards - gardens - ponds. The main house used to have from three to five rooms, with the middle one being the most important, where the ancestor's altars were placed. Other areas were places where all. family activities and relaxation took place. There were always little wings where the woman slept and where foods and family possessions were kept. Kitchens were located next to pigsties. In many Southern provinces, kitchens were built next to the main living quarters. Yards, used for drying x things, family activities, as well as for relaxing in airy open spaces, are well-suited to the region's humid, tropical climate.

Transportation: The Viet transport their goods by road and water, using a variety of methods: - By road: carrying a basket or things on the shoulder using different kinds of carrying poles, such as ganh quang, ganh cap, don ganh, don soc and don can, etc.; carrying items using a stick or don khieng', carrying by a stretcher of mat sacks and sackcloth or using the head; carrying on the back, using a type of back-basket. or sackcloth; pack-saddling goods, using bicycles, pull carts, push carts, horse carts, buffalo and ox carts. - By water: using boats, rafts, floats, canoes and ships. Each of these means has different shapes, sizes, materials and devices.

Social organization: The majority of the Viet live in villages. Several villages form a commune district. Many of these communes are actually part of one big village, and smaller villagers may just -be split from the main village. There are different hamlets in a village, some are bigger than others. Before the Revolution of August 1945, each village had its own administration system - fairly efficient self-ruled. The ruler's group was call Phe Giap. They united the villagers to take care of all the village's affairs from managing labors to matters of etiquette, to worshiping Village's founders. Handcraft villages organized guilds for each profession. Within a village, the segregation between villagers and outsiders was outlined in its charter. A. village's traditions and customs were highly regarded and every one followed them conscientiously.

Family: Viet families are mostly small, with two generations living together in a patriarchal system. Nevertheless, women still play an important role in managing the family's economy.
The Viet have numerous family names, and some of the most popular one are Nguyen, Tran, Le, Pham, Vu..., which can be seen everywhere. Each family clan has its own worshipping house. There are many of shoots in a family clan, and there are many branches in an offshoot. Each of these branches include grandparents, parents, sisters, and brothers. Relations from the father's side are well-kept from generation to generation. Relatives are close and loving to each other.