Vietnam's Diversity in A Glance

The history of Vietnam can be traced back to around 20,000 years ago. The first modern humans to arrive and settle in the area of modern-day Vietnam are known as the Hoabinhians.

Traces of human habitation was found in the caves in northeastern Vietnam’s Ba Be National Park. These artifacts include stone tools, evidence of cooking, and the teeth and bones of various animals.

Vietnam's long coastal and narrowed lands, rugged mountainous terrains, with two major deltas, were home to several different ethnic groups, ancient cultures and civilizations.

Historically, some of the ethnic groups have roots in Vietnam and some went through hundreds of years of journeys from various places in Asia and found their home in Vietnam. Today, Vietnam has 54 officially recognized ethnic groups, each with its own unique culture and traditions.

Let's meet some of them

The Tày people, also known as the Thổ, T'o, Tai Tho, Ngan, Phen, Thu Lao, or Pa Di, date back to the end of 1,000 BC. They were some of the first settlers in ancient Vietnam. The main area the Tay currently reside in is in the valleys of the Northeast provinces.

The Yao (also known as Dao, Mán, Trại, Động, Dìu Miền, Kiềm Miền, Kìm Mùn) and the H’mong share a migration history over thousands of years and some of them settled in the northern mountains of Vietnam. They share a language called H’mong-Dao.

The Dao are known for their ancestral knowledge on medicinal herbs. Younger generations today keep the tradition and know that the medicine is at home.

Historically these ethnic groups lived in parts of Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Bru-Van Kieu people reside in various places in Vietnam, but mainly in 3 provinces: Quang Tri, Quang Binh and Thua Thien Hue. Some have made their way to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Land of the Caves.

Ban Doong Village in Phong Nha- Ke Bang National Park was established in 1992 by Bru Van Kieu ethnic group people who moved from Quang Binh Province to the area of Hung Doong (“hung” means valley) to reside in after their village was severely flooded. 

There are 54 ethnic groups recognized in Vietnam today. They are part of the history and the future of Vietnam.