 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Vietnam 50,322 (2019)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Vietnam | |
| Languages | |
| Mạ,Vietnamese, others | |
| Religion | |
| Animism •Theravada Buddhism |
TheMạ orMaa (Vietnamese:Người Mạ) are aMon–Khmerindigenous people of Vietnam; as of 2019, they had a population of 50,322. They are concentrated mostly in theLâm Đồng andĐồng Nai province of the country, particularly in the area of the upperĐồng Nai River.[2] They are very close to theKoho people.
The Ma achieved some form of political unity and a stratified society before the 19th century due to the influence of theFunan.[2] This, however, broke down due to varying factors such as theFrench colonization, inter-group warfare, and slave trading.[2] The Mon-Khmer-speaking group calledCho Ro is identified by some ethnologists as a subgroup of the Ma people.[3]
The Mạ or Maa language comes under the Mon-Khmer Group: this and theKoho language are sometimes considered to be different dialects only. Jean Boulbet[4] and Lêet al. describe the following Mạ subgroups.[5] There are over 16,000 Mạ people living in Lộc Thắng, Lộc Bắc, Lộc Tân, Lộc Lâm, Lộc Ngãi, and Lộc Châu communes inBảo Lộc District; Đạ Teh, Đạ M’rê, Đạ Huoai, Đồng Nai, and Ma Đa Gui communes inĐạ Huoai District; Đạ Đờn and Phú Sơn communes inĐức Trọng District; Đinh Trang Thượng commune in northernDi Linh District (Lê et al. 2014:310). These districts all belong toLâm Đồng Province.
Le (2003)[6] covers the Maa varieties of Dagui, Chop, and Tadung.
The Mạ have a rich oral traditions, and their culture is a tapestry of folklore. Myths, parables, and legends are an integral part of this ethnic group.[7] A detailed description the beliefs, customs, ethno-geography and botany of the Mạ people is given byJean Boulbet, having lived in what is now theCát Tiên andBảo Lâm districts in the 1950-60s: before the extensive influx of lowland people to the region.[4]
The Mạ are also known for their traditional colorful attire. Mạ women wear skirts that reach well below their knees. The men customarily wear loincloth.[4]
| Austroasiatic (Vietic) | |
|---|---|
| Austroasiatic (Bahnaric) | |
| Austroasiatic (other) | |
| Hmong–Dao | |
| Tai–Kadai | |
| Sino-Tibetan (Chinese) | |
| Sino-Tibetan (Tibeto-Burman) | |
| Malayo-Polynesian | |
| Immigrants and expatriate | |
The 54 officially recognised ethnic groups are ranked by population in their language families according to2019 census
| |
