Discover the Co Lao ethnic group

The Co Lao ethnic group is one of 16 ethnic groups with very few people in Vietnam. Currently, thanks to the overall support policies of the Party and State to each household, it has contributed to helping the Co Lao people develop in all aspects of life. life, society. Let's go togetheriguide.aiFind out information about the Co Lao ethnic group, Vietnam!

1. Origin

Self-name: Co Lao.
Other names: Tu Du, Ho Ki, Voa De.
Local groups: Blue Lao Flag, White Lao Flag, Red Lao Flag.

The Co Lao ethnic group is one of the ethnic groups with a small population in Vietnam. The Co Lao people in Vietnam originally migrated from China. Over historical periods, Co Lao groups gradually migrated to the South and then into Vietnam. The first Co Lao people came to Vietnam as early as about 150 to 200 years ago. Their last migrations ended about 60 - 80 years ago.

2. Population

According to data from the 2019 Survey of 53 Ethnic Minorities, the Co Lao ethnic population is 4,003 people, of which 2,005 are men and 1,998 are women.

3. Geographic distribution

The Co Lao ethnic group only resides in Ha Giang province, including highlands with rocky mountains and dirt mountains (Dong Van, Meo Vac, Hoang Su Phi districts), middle areas (Yen Minh district) and lowlands (Vi Xuyen and Hoang Su Phi districts). Bac Quang).

4. Language

The language belongs to the Ka Dai language group, the same group as La Ha, La Chi, and Pu Peo (Thai - Ka Dai language family). In the past, local groups had different dialects, but now the majority of Red Co Lao and Green Co Lao people no longer speak their mother tongue. Depending on the contact process, the community is used to using Quan Hoa, Nung or Pu Peo, Hmong languages.

Education: According to data from the 2019 Survey of 53 Ethnic Minorities, the rate of people aged 15 and older who can read and write general education accounts for 58.2%, and the overall school attendance rate of children at the primary school level is 58.2%. accounting for 103.4%. The general attendance rate of children at the lower secondary level is 83.1%, the general attendance rate of children at the high school level is 37.4%, the rate of children out of school is 17.6 %.

5. Main characteristics

Social institutions:Under the French colonial period, landowners - those who openly destroyed and established villages, family leaders appointed by the government as matriarchs - had to manage 1-2 villages or blind people managed a few families. Today, the grassroots administrative management system has been implemented at all levels, in which the village of the Co Lao people is the basic level of the commune-level administrative organization.

Religion and belief:It can be said that compared to the material culture elements, religion and beliefs of the Co Lao people have changed very little. People still maintain the concept of three parts that make up the world (heaven, earth and water), polytheistic beliefs, and all living things.

Housing:Co Lao people live in land houses, usually with three rooms and two wings. Most of the houses of the Co Lao people are houses with walls and tiled roofs.

Skin:Men's clothing includes a hat, shirt and pants. Indigo or black pants, wide legged, ankle length, no pockets. Indigo or black shirt with a stand collar, chest slit, and fabric buttons. The shirt has slits and usually has four open pockets.

Women's clothing mainly uses pants, towels, shirts, belts, leggings, and in some localities, people also use aprons like the H'Mong people.

Cuisine:Regarding food, the food of the Co Lao people is mainly made from crop and livestock products. Food is made from livestock products including chickens, pigs and goats.

Art:The Co Lao people still pass down stories to their children about their migration history, the story of their traditional dress, their previous marriage, and their teeth being knocked out.

6. Economic conditions

The Green Co Lao and White Co Lao groups are distributed in two districts of Dong Van and Meo Vac, living mainly on sedentary fields and growing corn in rocky mountain niches. The Red Co Lao group is distributed in two districts of Hoang Su Phi and Yen Minh, where there are many mountains and valleys, the main farming area is wet fields and upland fields, rice growing is the main thing. In addition to main food crops, Co Lao people also grow many types of beans, vegetables and other crops. For every Co Lao family, this is an indispensable economic activity. Livestock not only mainly provides traction and fertilizer for production, and food for activities related to funerals, weddings, and holidays.

Like animal husbandry, family handicrafts are just a side job. Carpentry is a family craft activity that has been around for a long time and is quite developed in Co Lao families. Making corn wine is not a prominent traditional profession in the Co Lao community, corn wine has become a well-known commodity.

Gathering, like hunting and fishing, instead of being one of the main livelihood activities as before, gathering is only a supplementary activity to the agricultural activities of the people. Co Lao.

Above is some interesting information about the Co Lao ethnic group, Vietnam, let's joiniguide.aiPlan to explore, meet and experience culture with Co Lao people in the near future!

Source:
- Ethnic groups in Vietnam (Truth National Political Publishing House);
- Basic characteristics of 54 ethnic minorities in 2019 (Committee for Ethnic Minorities and General Statistics Office);
- Website of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities, Website of Nhan Dan Newspaper;
- Results of the survey collecting information on the socio-economic status of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam).