Name of Ethnic Group: Nung (Xuong, Giang, Nung An, Nung Coi, Phan Sinh, Nung Chao, Nung lnh, Qui Rin, Nung Din, and Khen Lai).

Population: About 706,000 people.

Locality: Lang Son, Cao Bang, Bac Thai, Ha Bac, and Tuyen Quang Provinces.

Customs and Habits: The Nung mainly worship their ancestors, spirits, saints, Confucius, and Kwan Yin. Nung villages are often built on hillsides. There is usually a submerged field in front of the house and a garden in the back. The Nung houses are always built on stilts.

Culture: The Nung language resembles the Tay, and belongs to the Tay-Thai Group. The Nung have a written language called Nom Nung (Nung scripts) which has prevailed since the 17th century.

The Nung have an abundant wealth of folk arts and cultural activities including folksongs and alternative songs ("sli"). The smooth melodies of the "sli" are harmonious with the natural sounds of the forests and mountains. This type of folksong is a combination of verse and music.

The "Lung Tung" (Going to the Fields) Ceremony is very well known and attracts many people of all ages. This ceremony is always organized on the first month of the lunar year.
Costumes: The Nung mainly wear indigo attire.

Economy: The Nung live on rice and corn. They also grow cash crops and fruit trees, such as tangerines and persimmons, and anise.

The Khmer (about 500,000) and the Cham (about 50,000) are descendants of peoples who lived in central and southern Vietnam prior to the Vietnamese conquest of those areas. The tribal peoples are descendants of communities who migrated into Vietnam from other parts of Asia over a period of several thousand years. They are divided into about 50 different language and ethnic groups (including the Tho, the Tay, the Nung, the Muong, the Rhadé, and the Jarai) and live almost exclusively in the mountains surrounding the Red River Delta and in the Central Highlands. Taken collectively, the tribal peoples represent seven percent of the country's total population.

During the Vietnam War:

Nung, tribespeople of Chinese origin, from the highlands of North Vietnam. Some who moved South worked with the U.S. Special Forces.

Language reference web page:

http://www.de-han.org/vietnam/chuliau/lunsoat/sound/

People reference web page:

http://www.vnnews.com/coci/0104/38.htm

http://www.vwam.com/vets/tribes/ethnicminorities.html

http://www.vov.org.vn/2002_08_16/english/baituan/dithamdatnuoc.htm

http://www.bvom.com/resource/vn_ethnic.asp?pContent=Features

http://www.nhandan.org.vn/english/history/20000902.html

http://wrc.lingnet.org/vietnam.htm

Dave

"OUTSTANDING INFORMATION"

Definiately a "Gold Star" for this effort!!

Good shot Dave!!:)

OUTSTANDING!!!!

DAVE

Your article & all it's attachments took me almost 1 & 1/2 hours to read. Very informative, factual & full of information.
I applaude your effort on your research &
say again that this article gave me an education of the Vietnamese people. Thanks

In the 65/66 time period, the "Nungs" had a compound located behind the squadron area at Danang. Special Forces and Australian advisors worked with them. Heard numerous stories about their exploits. Our crews liked them because when landing in a zone, they were out of the aircraft before anyone else. Some said they would start jumping before the wheels touched the ground.