54 GROUPS: RA GLAI PEOPLE OF VIETNAM

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

Name Of Ethnic Group

Ra Glai (also known as Ra Glay, Krai, Orang Glai, No-Ana, and La Vang)

Ra Glai People Population

146,613 people (2019 Census)

Locality

Mainly in the southern regions of Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan provinces.

Customs & Habits

The Ra Glai believe there is a spiritual world known as “Giang” that includes good and evil forces. They traditionally live in stilted houses. The pa-lay is headed by a po pa-lay (a village chief who is generally the first landowner). Matriarchy remains in existence in Ra Glai society, as the children take the family name of their mother. If a young woman wants to marry a young man, she will first ask her parents if they can prepare the wedding ceremony. During the marriage process, the bride’s younger brother has a fairly important say in the decision-making.

Culture

The Ra Glai language belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian Group. After the harvest season, all villagers gather to pay thanks to Giang and to enjoy the new rice harvest.

Economy

Formerly the Ra Glai simply grew rice and maize using slash-and-burn farming techniques. They also developed wet-rice agriculture. Hunting, picking, gathering, and making handicrafts are other forms of income generation.

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