54 GROUPS: CONG PEOPLE OF VIETNAM

This page provides some details about Cong people. They are one of the 54 groups of people in Vietnam.

Name Of Ethnic Group

Cong (also called Xa, Xa Cong, Xam Khong, Mang Nhe, and Xa Xeng)

Cong People Population

2,729 people (2019 Census)

Locality

Muong Te District in Lai Chau province and along the Da River.

Customs & Habits

The Cong live in houses built on stilts. Each Cong lineage has a leader, its own social taboos, and its own manner of worshipping their ancestors at the altar. According to customs, young men and women can each take initiative in marriage. People of direct relations can only marry their seventh-generation relative. The man’s family actively proposes marriage. After the betrothal, the man lives with his future wife’s family for several years. Women wear their hair knotted in a chignon on top of their heads which shows that they are married.

They often have a wedding once the couple has had children. In fact, the man must then offer pieces of silver money to his wife’s parents. In return, the woman’s family must prepare a dowry for the bride to bring to her husband’s house. Every year, each Cong Village holds a communal ceremony where they perform several rites to pray for bumper crops.

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Culture

The Cong language belongs to the Tibet-Burman Group. The Cong folk arts are diverse. Their songs are characteristically composed of smooth melodies with alternating songs that are sung at communal ceremonies.

Economy

The Cong use a slash and burn method of cultivation. The Cong grow cotton which is used to barter for other cloth. Other handicraft activities include basketry and, particularly, red-dyed rattan mat making.

For more information about 53 more ethnic groups of people in Vietnam, please follow this link

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