Name of ethnic group: Tay (also known as Phen, Tho, Ngan, Thu Lao, and Pa Di).
Population: 1.626.392 people (Year 2009). This is the second-largest ethnic group in Vietnam (the first is Thai ethnic group).
Locality: Most of Tay ethnic people live in the midland region and North Vietnam’s mountainous areas. For example Cao Bang, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Yen Bai, Thai Nguyen… Recently, the Tay have emigrated to the central highlands region such as Dak Lak, Lam Dong.
Culture
The culture of Tay is very diversified. They usually hold various kinds of ceremony regarding production, human life, wedding, funeral…. There is rich folklore with many poems, dances, songs.
The Tay language belongs to the Tay-Thai group.
Family
The Tay families often prefer a son to daughter. They have detailed regulations on the relationship between members of the family.
Community
The villages of Tay ethnic group are often located by the base of the mountain or stream. The name of villages is often given after a hill, mountain, rice field, or river. Each village has around 15 or 20 households. The large villages are divided into small hamlets. They live in thatched stilt houses.
Costumes
Tay women wear knee-length dresses, which are split at the right side with five buttons along the armpit, and narrow sleeves. The main colour of the costumes is indigo. Silver necklace and rings are their traditional jewellery.
Religion
The Tay ethnic people worship ancestor and fetishism. The altar for the ancestor is usually placed at the central space of the house. The altar room is considered sacred. Guests and women who are pregnant are not allowed to sit on the chair or lie on the bed in front of the altar. The third of March in the lunar calendar is the grave visiting day of Tay ethnic people. It is also their most important day in the year.
Economy
The Tay people mainly earn living by agriculture. They plant corn, rice, sweet potatoes…
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