The 54 Ethnic Groups of Vietnam

A Visual Summary

With 54 offi­cial­ly rec­og­nized eth­nic groups speak­ing over 100 lan­guages, Viet­nam is one of the most eth­ni­cal­ly diverse coun­tries in South­east Asia and per­haps the world, in rela­tion to its land mass.

Jour­ney through the moun­tain­ous North where the col­or­ful Lo Lo, Phu La, Ha Nhi and Pu Peo call home. The vast Cen­tral High­lands plateau home to the Ba Na, Co Tu, Xo Dang and Brau. All the way South to the Mekong Delta, home of the Cham and Khmer. These are just a hand­ful of the many eth­nic minor­i­ty groups in Viet­nam, a coun­try at the cross­roads of South­east Asia with great cul­tur­al, lin­guis­tic and genet­ic diversity.

Pre­sent­ed here is a visu­al guide to the 54 pri­ma­ry eth­nic groups of Viet­nam. Click on the name of an eth­nic group at the top of the page to see a sum­ma­ry with the offi­cial stamp and pho­to (if avail­able). If you pay close atten­tion you can see the tra­di­tion­al homes of each eth­nic group in the back­ground of the stamp. For a more con­cise and sortable list of the 54 eth­nic groups of Viet­nam click here.

$

1. Ba Na

$

2. Bo Y

$

3. Brau

$

4. Bru-Van Kieu

$

5. Cham

$

6. Cho Ro

$

7. Chu Ru

$

8. Chut

$

9. Co

$

10. Co Ho

$

11. Co Lao

$

12. Cong

$

13. Co Tu

$

14. Dao

$

15. E De

$

16. Gia Rai

$

17. Giay

$

18. Gie Trieng

$

19. Ha Nhi

$

20. Hmong

$

21. Hoa

$

22. Hre

$

23. Khang

$

24. Khmer

$

25. Kho Mu

$

26. Kinh

$

27. La Chi

$

28. La Ha

$

29. La Hu

$

30. Lao

$

31. Lo Lo

$

32. Lu

$

33. Ma

$

34. Mang

$

35. Mnong

$

36. Muong

$

37. Ngai

$

38. Nung

$

39. O Du

$

40. Pa Then

$

41. Phu La

$

42. Pu Peo

$

43. Ra Glai

$

44. Ro Mam

$

45. San Chay

$

46. San Diu

$

47. Si La

$

48. Ta Oi

$

49. Tay

$

50. Thai

$

51. Tho

$

52. Xinh Mun

$

53. Xo Dang

$

54. Xtieng

#01: Ba Na ethnic group

Ba na ethnic group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Ba Na

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
286,910

Loca­tion (Province)
Kon Tum, Gia Lai,
Binh Dinh

(Central Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:

Mon-Khmer

Ba Na Stamp

Back to Top

#02: Bo Y ethnic group

Bo Y Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Bố Y

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
3,232

Loca­tion (Province)
Lao Cai, Ha Giang
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Tai–Kadai:

Tai

Bo Y ethnic group Vietnam stamp

Back to Top

#03: Brau ethnic group

Brau Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Brâu

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
525

Loca­tion (Province)
Kon Tum
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:

Mon-Khmer

Brau_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#04: Bru-Van Kieu ethnic group

Bru Van Kieu coming soon
Offi­cial Name:
Bru-Vân Kiều

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
94,598

Loca­tion (Province)
Quang Tri, Quang Binh, Dak Lak
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:

Mon-Khmer

Si La Ethnic Group Vietnam Stamp

Back to Top

#05: Cham ethnic group

Cham_ethnic_group_vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Chăm

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
178,948

Loca­tion (Province)
Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Phu Yen,

An Giang

(Central/South Viet­nam)

Lan­guage Group

Austronesian:

Malayo-
Polynesian

Cham_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#06: Cho Ro ethnic group

Cho Ro Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Chơ Ro

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
29,520

Loca­tion (Province)
Dong Nai, Ba Ria, Vung Tau, Binh Thuan
(South­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:

Mon-Khmer

ChoRo_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#07: Chu Ru ethnic group

Chu Ru Woman Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Chu Ru

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
23,242

Loca­tion (Province)
Lam Dong
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austronesian:

Malayo-
Polynesian

ChuRu_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#08: Chut ethnic group

Chut ethnic group coming soon
Offi­cial Name:
Chứt

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
7,513

Loca­tion (Province)
Quang Binh
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:

Viet-Muong

Chut_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#09: Cor ethnic group

Cor ethnic group coming soon
Offi­cial Name:
Co

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
40,442

Loca­tion (Province)
Quang Ngai,

Quang Nam

(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:

Mon-Khmer

Cor_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#10: Co Ho ethnic group

Co Ho Woman Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Cờ Ho

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
200,800

Loca­tion (Province)
Lam Dong
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:

Mon-Khmer

CoHo_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#11: Co Lao ethnic group

Co Lao Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Cờ Lao

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
4,003

Loca­tion (Province)
Ha Giang
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Tai–Kadai:

Kra

CoLao_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#12: Cong ethnic group

Cong ethnic group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Cống

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
2,729

Loca­tion (Province)
Lai Chau, Dien Bien
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Sino-Tibetan:

Tibeto-Burman

Cong_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#13: Co Tu ethnic group

Co Tu Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Cơ Tu

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
74,173

Loca­tion (Province)
Quang Nam,
Thua Thien-Hue
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:

Mon-Khmer

Si La Ethnic Group Vietnam Stamp

Back to Top

#14: Dao ethnic group

Dao Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Dao

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
891,151

Loca­tion (Province)
North­ern Vietnam

Lan­guage Group

Hmong–Mien

Dao_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#15: E De ethnic group

E De Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Ê Đê

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
398,671

Loca­tion (Province)
Dak Lak, Phu Yen
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austronesian:
Malayo-
Polynesian

Ede_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#16: Gia Rai ethnic group

Gia Rai Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Gia Rai

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
513,930

Loca­tion (Province)
Gia Lai, Kon Tum,
Dak Lak
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austronesian:
Malayo-
Polynesian

GiaRai_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#17: Giay ethnic group

Vietnam Hill Tribes woman
Offi­cial Name:
Giáy

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
67,858

Loca­tion (Province)
Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Cao Bang
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Tai–Kadai:
Tai

Giay_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#18: Gie Trieng ethnic group

Gie Trieng ethnic group coming soon
Offi­cial Name:
Giẻ Triêng

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
63,322

Loca­tion (Province)
Kon Tum, Quang Nam
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Mon-Khmer

GieTrieng_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#19: Ha Nhi ethnic group

Ha Nhi Ethnic Group, Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Hà Nhì

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
25,539

Loca­tion (Province)
Lai Chau, Lao Cai,
Dien Bien

(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Sino-Tibetan:
Tibeto-Burman

HaNhi_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#20: Hmong ethnic group

Hmong woman Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Hmong

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
1,393,547

Loca­tion (Province)
North­ern Vietnam

Lan­guage Group

Hmong–Mien

Hmong_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#21: Hoa ethnic group

Xa Phang Hoa Ethnic Group North Viietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Hoa

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
749,466

Loca­tion (Province)
Across Viet­nam

Lan­guage Group

Sino-Tibetan:
Chinese/Han

Hoa_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#22: Hre ethnic group

Hre ethnic group coming soon
Offi­cial Name:
Hrê

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
149,460

Loca­tion (Province)
Quang Ngai
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Mon-Khmer

Hre_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#23: Khang ethnic group

Khang ethnic group coming soon
Offi­cial Name:
Kháng

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
16,180

Loca­tion (Province)
Lai Chau, Son La,
Dien Bien
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Mon-Khmer

Khang_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#24: Khmer ethnic group

Khmer Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Khmer

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
1,319,652

Loca­tion (Province)
Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Kien Giang, An Giang, Ca Mua
(South­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Mon-Khmer

Khmer_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#25: Kho Mu ethnic group

Kho Mu ethnic group coming soon
Offi­cial Name:
Khơ Mú

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
90,612

Loca­tion (Province)
Nghe An, Dien Bien, Son La, Lai Chau
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Mon-Khmer

KhoMu_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#26: Kinh ethnic group

Kinh ethnic group coming soon_
Offi­cial Name:
Kinh

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
82,085,826

Loca­tion (Province)
Across Viet­nam

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Viet-Muong

Kinh_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#27: La Chi ethnic group

La Chi Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
La Chí

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
15,126

Loca­tion (Province)
Ha Giang
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Tai–Kadai:
Kra

LaChi_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#28: La Ha ethnic group

La Ha ethnic group coming soon
Offi­cial Name:
La Ha

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
10,157

Loca­tion (Province)
Son La
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Tai–Kadai:
Kra

LaHa_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#29: La Hu ethnic group

La Hu Ethnic Group, Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
La Hủ

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
12,113

Loca­tion (Province)
Lai Chau
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Sino-Tibetan:
Tibeto-Burman

LaHu_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#30: Lao  ethnic group

Lao Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Lao

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
17,532

Loca­tion (Province)
Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Tai–Kadai:
Tai

Lao_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#31: Lo Lo ethnic group

Lolo Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Lô Lô

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
4,827

Loca­tion (Province)
Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lai Chau
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Sino-Tibetan:
Tibeto-Burman

LoLo_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#32: Lu ethnic group

Lu Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Lự

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
6,757

Loca­tion (Province)
 Lai Chau
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Tai–Kadai:
Tai

Lu_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#33: Ma ethnic group

Ma ethnic group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Mạ

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
50,322

Loca­tion (Province)
Lam Dong, Dak Nong, Dong Nai
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Mon-Khmer

Ma_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#34: Mang ethnic group

Mang Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Mảng

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
4,650

Loca­tion (Province)
Lai Chau
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Mon-Khmer

Mang_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#35: Mnong ethnic group

Mnong girl Vietnam Alden Anderson
Offi­cial Name:
Mnông

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
127,334

Loca­tion (Province)
Dak Lak, Dak Nong
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Mon-Khmer

Mnong_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#36: Muong ethnic group

Muong ethnic group vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Mường

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
1,452,095

Loca­tion (Province)
Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Phu Tho, Son La, Ninh Binh
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Viet-Muong

Muong_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#37: Ngai ethnic group

Ngai ethnic group coming soon
Offi­cial Name:
Ngái

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
1,649

Loca­tion (Province)
Thai Nguyen, Binh Thuan, Ho Chi Minh City
(Northern/Southern Viet­nam)

Lan­guage Group

Sino-Tibetan:
Chinese/Han

Ngai_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#38: Nung ethnic group

Nung ethnic group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Nùng

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
1,083,298

Loca­tion (Province)
Lang Son, Cao Bang, Bac Giang
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Tai–Kadai:
Tai

Nung_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#39: O Du ethnic group

O Du ethnic group coming soon
Offi­cial Name:
Ơ Đu

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
428

Loca­tion (Province)
Nghe An
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Mon-Khmer

ODu_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#40: Pa Then ethnic group

Pa Then ethnic group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Pà Thẻn

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
8,248

Loca­tion (Province)
Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Hmong–Mien

PaThen_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp_

Back to Top

#41: Phu La ethnic group

Phu La Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Phù Lá

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
12,471

Loca­tion (Province)
Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Dien Bien
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Sino-Tibetan:
Tibeto-Burman

PhuLa_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#42: Pu Peo ethnic group

Pu Peo Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Pu Péo

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
903

Loca­tion (Province)
Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Tai–Kadai:
Kra

PuPeo_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#43: Ra Glai ethnic group

Ra Glai ethnic group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Ra Glai

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
146,613

Loca­tion (Province)
Ninh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austronesian:
Malayo-
Polynesian

RaGlai_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#44: Ro Mam ethnic group

Ro Mam Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Rơ Măm

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
639

Loca­tion (Province)
Kon Tum
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Mon-Khmer

RoMam_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#45: San Chay ethnic group

Cao Lan, San Chay Ethnic Minority Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Sán Chay

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
201,398

Loca­tion (Province)
Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Tai–Kadai:
Tai

SanChay_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#46: San Diu ethnic group

San Diu ethnic group coming soon
Offi­cial Name:
Sán Dìu

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
183,004

Loca­tion (Province)
Thai Nguyen, Vinh Phuc, Bac Giang, Quang Ninh, Tuyen Quang
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Sino-Tibetan:
Chinese/Han

SanDiu_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#47: Si La ethnic group

Si La Woman North Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Si La

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
909

Loca­tion (Province)
Lai Chau, Dien Bien
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Sino-Tibetan:
Tibeto-Burman

Si La Ethnic Group Vietnam Stamp

Back to Top

#48: Ta Oi ethnic group

Vietnamese hill tribes
Offi­cial Name:
Tà Ôi

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
52,356

Loca­tion (Province)
Thua Thien Hue
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Mon-Khmer

TaOi_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#49: Tay ethnic group

Tay Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Tày

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
1,845,492

Loca­tion (Province)
North­ern Vietnam

Lan­guage Group

Tai–Kadai:
Tai

Tay_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#50: Thai ethnic group

Woman from the Thai Ethnic Minority Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Thái

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
1,820,950

Loca­tion (Province)
North­ern Vietnam

Lan­guage Group

Tai–Kadai:
Tai

Thai_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#51: Tho ethnic group

Tho ethnic group coming soon
Offi­cial Name:
Thổ

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
91,430

Loca­tion (Province)
Nghe An, Thanh Hoa
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Viet-Muong

Tho_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#52: Xinh Mun ethnic group

Xin Mun ethnic group coming soon
Offi­cial Name:
Xinh Mun

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
29,503

Loca­tion (Province)
Son La, Dien Bien
(North­ern Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Mon-Khmer

XinhMun_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#53: Xo Dang ethnic group

Xo Dang Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Xơ Đăng

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
212,277

Loca­tion (Province)
Kon Tum, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Mon-Khmer

XoDang_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

#54: Xtieng ethnic group

Xtieng Ethnic Group Vietnam
Offi­cial Name:
Xtiêng

Pop­u­la­tion (Viet­nam)
100,752

Loca­tion (Province)
Binh Phuoc
(Cen­tral Vietnam)

Lan­guage Group

Austroasiatic:
Mon-Khmer

Xtieng_Ethnic_Group_Vietnam_Stamp

Back to Top

Discover stories from ‘Vietnam The People’