54 GROUPS: M’NONG PEOPLE OF VIETNAM

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

Name Of Ethnic Group

M’Nong (also known as Bru Dang, Preh, Ger, Nong, Prang, PJam, Kuyenh, Chil Bu Nor, and M’Nong Bu Dang)

M’Nong People Population

127,334 people (2019 Census)

Locality

Concentrated in the southern parts of Dak Lak and Dak Nong provinces, and parts of Lam Dong and Binh Phuoc provinces.

Customs & Habits

The M’Nong live in houses built on stilts or level with the ground. Each village usually has dozens of households. The village chief plays a major role in village life. They like to drink alcohol from jars with pipes and smoke tobacco threads rolled in leaves. Matriarchy is observed and the children take the family name of their mother. The wife holds the key position in the household. The M’Nong like to have many children, especially daughters. Not until one year after the birth of a child, they give the baby a name!

At funerals, people sing and beat gongs and drums at the side of the coffin. After placing the coffin in the grave, they cover it with plants, tree boughs, and leaves before filling the grave with earth. After seven days, the family holds a rite that completes the mourning process. The M’Nong believe in the existence of many spirits relating to their life. One such spirit is Mother Rice who has a special role.

Culture

M’Nong language belongs to the Mon-Khmer Group.

Costumes

Men generally wear loincloths and leave their upper torsos naked. Women wear skirts that fall to their ankles. Dark indigo loincloths, skirts, and vests are decorated with red-coloured designs.

Economy

The M’Nong use the slash-and-burn method of farming. The M’Nong in Ban Don are well known for their elephant hunting and domestication. Women handle the weaving of cotton cloth, while the men work on basketry.

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