54 GROUPS: O DU PEOPLE OF VIETNAM

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

Name Of Ethnic Group

O Du (also known as Tay Hat)

O Du People Population

428 people (2019 Census)

Locality

The O Du live in the villages of Kim Hoa and Xop Pot in Kim Da Commune, and the rest live in nearby villages in Tuong Duong District, Nghe An Province.

Customs & Habits

The O Du live in small families. After marriage, the bridegroom lives at his wife’s house for some time before returning to his house with his children and his wife. For the O Du, the New Year begins on the day when the thunder rolls for the first time in early spring. They believe that people have souls. Therefore, after death, they become the soul of the house, watching over every activity of the living.

Culture

O Du language belongs to the Mon-Khmer Group and is now no longer used. They do use the Thai and Kho Mu languages, however. As a result, their cultural identity is obscured by the influences of the Thai and the Kho Mu.

Economy

The O Du live off of farming on slash-and-burnt plots, rearing animals, gathering, and also hunting. Weaving is also a sideline family occupation.

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