1. History

Regarding the origin story of the Kho Mu ethnic group in Vietnam, there are still a number of different views. Currently, most scientists confirm that Kho Mu people are residents of the Indochinese peninsula, concentrated in Northern Laos, with the largest gathering point in Luang Prabang, and formed a kingdom named Swa or Lawa. After the Lao people migrated down along with the expeditions and people from Yunnan (China) poured down, forcing Kho Mu people to migrate to Thailand and Northwest Vietnam.

Some other opinions suggested that Kho Mu people are residents in the Northwest region in Vietnam, based on the folk tales of the Kho Mu and Thai people about the origin of mankind born from gourds.

Original name: Kmu, Kum Mu meaning "people" or "community of people".

Other names: Xa Cau, Kha Kluu, Mang Cau, Tay Hay, Mon Xen, Pu Thanh, and Tenh.

2. Population

According to census data on 53 ethnic minorities as of 1 April 2019, the total population of Kho Mu people is 90,612, including 45,494 males and 45,118 females. The percentage of population living in rural areas is 97%.

3. Geographical distribution

Kho Mu people live in the provinces along the Vietnam – Laos border such as Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Son La, Lai Chau, and Dien Bien.

4. Language

Kho Mu people’s language belongs to the Mon-Khmer group in the Austroasiatic language family. Many people can read and write Thai language.

- Education: According to results of 2019 census on ethnic minority groups, as of April 1, 2019, the percentage of Kho Mu people aged 15 years and over who can read and write in general is 65.8%; the net attendance rate for primary school is 100.6%; the net attendance rate of secondary school is 79.2%; the net attendance rate of high school is 26.2%; and the proportion of out-of-school children is 22.8%.

5. Main features

- Cuisine: Kho Mu people often eat sticky rice or corn stuffed with cassava. They like to eat spicy, sour, and bitter dishes as well as grilled foods such as cheo (a kind of dipping sauce), nam pia (a kind of traditional soup), and sour fish.

- Clothing: Kho Mu people wear the same clothes as Thai people, but the difference is the decoration of rows of money and shells on the women's bodice.

- Housing: Kho Mu people live on houses on stilts. Currently, many families have built more spacious and stable houses.

- Social relations: Kho Mu people have a close relationship together and with neighbours, especially Thai people.

Each village consists of many families belonging to different clans. Each family has a leader. Villagers have had a gap between rich and poor. Kho Mu families bear the names of animals, birds, plants, etc., which can be divided into 3 groups of surnames. In addition, there are some families with names of inanimate objects such as pig's basket and soup spoon, etc.

- Marriage: Marriage is conducted according to the principle of mutual consent, especially within a family line. In marriage, many matrilineal remnants still exist such as the custom of husbands living in their wives’ houses and taking their wives' surnames. Men and women are free to love but the right to decide the marriage is up to their parents, especially uncles.

- Funeral: The funeral of Kho Mu people includes many religious rites. Specifically, the ritual to see off the soul of the dead lasts for hours, after which the body is buried.

- New House: Moving to a new house is a joyful occasion for the family and the whole village. The host often slaughter pigs to treat their neighbours in the village. This is an opportunity for villagers to perform community-based cultural activities.

- Festival: In addition to the Lunar New Year, Kho Mu people also celebrate the new rice festival which takes place after the harvest season in the 10th lunar month.

- Worship: Kho Mu people believe that there are five most important types of ghosts: heaven ghost, earth ghost, thuong luong ghost, ancestral ghost, and house ghost. They are the ghosts that bring good things to people, but sometimes if angered, they can cause disaster to punish people. The altar of the house ghost is located in the attic of the kitchen, while their ancestors are worshipped in a private space. Each family still maintains the custom of worshiping their family ghost with their own rituals and movements.

- Calendar: Kho Mu people popularise the way of calculating the date and time based on their typical table for building houses and getting married.

- Arts: The familiar folk song that many people like names Tom. Kho Mu people like to dance and play bamboo flutes and percussions made by themselves, especially lip trumpets.