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social republic of vietnam

Son La potal

About Son La
The King Ethnic Group
The King Ethnic Group  
*Alternate Name: Việt
*Population: Approximately 65 million, making up about 87% of the national population.
* Residency: The Kinh people are distributed across all provinces, with the highest concentrations in the lowlands and urban areas.
 
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*Language: The Kinh language belongs to the Viet-Mường language group.

*Economy: The Kinh people are primarily engaged in wet rice cultivation, employing traditional techniques such as building dikes and digging canals. They also practice gardening, mulberry cultivation for silkworms, livestock and poultry farming, and both freshwater and marine fishing. Pottery has been a traditional craft for a long time.

*Food: The Kinh have customs including chewing betel nuts, smoking tobacco and betel leaves, and drinking tea and herbal infusions. Their diet features rice (both plain and glutinous), porridge, and sticky rice dishes. Unique Kinh foods include shrimp paste and fertilized duck eggs.

*Clothing: Traditional clothing for the Kinh people of Northern Vietnam includes brown "bà ba" outfits for men and "áo thứ thân," "yêm," and brown trousers for women. In the Mekong Delta region, both men and women wear black "bà ba" outfits.

*Housing: Kinh villages are often enclosed by bamboo fences, with many having sturdy village gates. Each village features a communal house (đình) for gatherings and worship. The Kinh people predominantly live in earthen houses.

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*Marriage and Family: In Kinh families, the husband (or father) is the head of the household. Children inherit their father's surname, with paternal relatives forming the "nội" (maternal) lineage and maternal relatives forming the "ngoại" (paternal) lineage. The eldest son is responsible for organizing ancestral worship for deceased parents and grandparents. Each clan has a communal ancestral temple and a clan leader overseeing communal affairs. Marriage is monogamous, involving various ceremonies, where the groom traditionally asks for the bride's hand and marries her. After the wedding, the bride moves to the groom's home. The Kinh place a high value on the bride's chastity and family background.

*Ancestral Worship: The Kinh practice ancestral worship, with deceased ancestors being honored annually on the anniversary of their death. Their graves are regularly visited and maintained by descendants.

*Religious Beliefs: The Kinh celebrate numerous festivals and rituals related to agricultural beliefs. Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Christianity, introduced from outside, are practiced to varying degrees.

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*Culture: The Kinh have a rich literary heritage, including oral literature such as folk tales, proverbs, and songs, as well as written works like poetry, prose, and historical texts. Their arts are highly developed, with achievements in singing, music, sculpture, painting, dance, and performance. Annual village festivals are vibrant cultural events, offering lively and engaging entertainment for the community

Translated by Huyen Vu