A Mekong River cruise is about more than just the scenery; it is also about the people. The majority of the Mekong Delta's population consists of Vietnamese, Khmers, Chams, and Hoas. Of course, they have cultural differences. However, their way of life and positive relationship with one another contribute to the Mekong Delta's distinct culture. A basic understanding of the ethnic groups in the Mekong Delta will make your tour more enjoyable and meaningful.
Khmer People in Mekong Delta
In Vietnam, the Mekong Delta is home to a sizable Khmer community. According to the 1999 census, the Khmer population is over one million people, accounting for 6.4 percent of the total population of the Mekong Delta. The Khmer people have spent the most time in the Mekong Delta. Many Khmer temples were built four or five centuries ago. The majority of Khmer people grow wet rice and other agricultural crops. They band together to form hamlets.
Monks are important members of the Khmer community. They not only participate in hamlet management but also celebrate Buddhist rituals. The Khmer community in the Mekong Delta is closely linked to the Khmer community in Cambodia. The Khmer people actively and positively contribute to the Mekong Delta's economic development and cultural diversity. The Khmer have developed a flourishing and distinct culture as a result of their long history of inhabiting and farming. Theravada Buddhism is the most influential or sole religion of the Khmer community.
Cham People in Mekong Delta
The Cham in the Mekong Delta have a population of about 12,500 people, most of whom live in the upper basin of the Hau River. After migrating to Cambodia in the 7th and 8th centuries, the Cham returned to Chau Doc (An Giang) and settled there in the 18th century. The Cham's main manufacturing activities are fishing on the Hau River, weaving and trading fabrics, cultivating wet rice and some fruits, and making pottery.
Palay (Cham village) is the localized type of Cham people. To avoid wild animals and flooding during flood season, they live in stir houses. Cham people follow only one religion: Muslim. Muslims' rites and beliefs have had a significant impact on Cham life and village management. Each Cham must follow the Koran's norms and ceremonies. Throughout three centuries, the Cham people have developed a strong sense of community and maintained long-term relationships with various ethnic groups.
Hoa people (Chinese descent) in Mekong Delta
A large population of Chinese people from China's south coast migrated into southern Vietnam in the 17th century. Thanks to the Nguyen Dynasty's permission, these people began to settle in the Mekong Delta. These people arrived as immigrants at first, but they gradually joined the Viet community's reclamation and became a part of Vietnam's ethnic communities. Hoa people are primarily involved in handicraft production, trading, and service provision. They also cultivate wet rice and other agricultural products in some areas. A large number of Hoa people live in cities, urban areas, and towns that are ideal for their commercial and trading activities. In their integration into the Mekong Delta, the Hoa have developed their own way of life, inheriting and developing traditional Chinese culture while also acquiring cultural quintessence from other ethnic groups in the Mekong Delta.
Viet people in Mekong Delta
With a population of over 16 million, Viet people are the most populous ethnic group in the Mekong Delta. People from the north began transmigrating and farming in this land in the early 17th century. They reclaimed unused land to create fields and gardens, cultivated and bred livestock, and then established hamlets. People in these hamlets were inextricably linked. They collaborated in the reclamation of wasteland and the construction of public works projects. The Mekong Delta Viet community's solidarity has helped them overcome the difficulties and hardships of combating harsh nature.
Nguyen King established the official administration on the Mekong Delta in 1698, marking a watershed moment in the development of the entire region as well as the Viet community in the Mekong Delta. The Viet community in the Mekong Delta has grown rapidly after three centuries of presence. Hamlets, towns, and commercial and service centers sprouted up all over the place. Along with economic success, the Viet community has created a rich and distinct spiritual and cultural life.
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