Vietnam-54 Ethnic Groups living.

"Through out Vietnam, there are a total of 54 Ethnic Groups living. The largest is the Viet, or Kinh people, which accounts for some 88% of the population.

Other major Ethnic groups include:

* Tay – 960,000 people

* Hoa – 930,000 people

* Thai – 770,00 people

* Khmer – 720,000 people

* H’mong – 441,00 people

* Dao – 340,000 people

* Giarai – 184,000 people

* Nung – 152,000 people

* Ede – 140,000 people"

| Grand festival honours ethnic cultures - Grand festival honours ethnic cultures

Thousands of people from many different ethnic groups nationwide gathered at the Vietnam Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village in Son Tay, Hanoi, on August 18 for Vietnamese Ethnic Cultures Day, the first ever held in Vietnam.

The event, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, started with gong performances by artists from the Central Highland province of Kontum and Cham dances by actresses from the southcentral province of Ninh Thuan.

The event, showing the many different cultures of the country’s 54 ethnic minorities, is expected to grow in popularity and become a regular major cultural event during the nation’s integration process.

A large cultural programme, including five chapters, took place at the Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village on the evening of April 19 with the attendance of ethnic groups from 33 provinces and cities nationwide.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung recently issued a decision marking April 19 as Vietnamese Ethnic Cultures Day.

Thailand agrees to repatriate 5,000 Hmong refugees to Laos

Thailand has agreed to repatriate 5,000 members of the Hmong ethnic minority to Laos from Thai refugee camps, a foreign ministry spokesman told AFP Saturday.
Thousands of Lao Hmong live in the camps in north east Thailand and are seeking political asylum.
They say they fear persecution because many Hmong once fought alongside US forces during the Vietnam war.
"There is coordination between the government and Laos to send Hmong refugees back to Laos according to the minister," foreign ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat told AFP.
"The process to return the refugees includes screening them to ensure that those who return will not be in danger," he added.
Thailand Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya made a visit to Laos on Friday but the ministry said the issue had not been discussed during talks.
Thailand claims the Hmong refugees are economic migrants seeking work, and has already been slowly shipping the Hmong back to Laos, to the horror of human rights groups who say that some may genuinely be in danger of persecution.
New York-based Human Rights Watch has accused Lao security forces of arrests, torture, sexual abuse and extrajudicial killings of Hmong in the past and has demanded both countries allow UN monitoring of any repatriations.
The resettlements have slowed amid Thailand's recent political turmoil but Laos appears eager to wrap up the process before it takes the regional spotlight when it hosts the 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in December.
Thailand has lately been cultivating Laos as a key regional ally, with energy-hungry Thais buying increasing amounts of electricity from their communist neighbour to the north.

Tourism village to exhibit culture of all 54 peoples

The first stage of the Viet Nam Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village will begin operation in 2010 and the remaining stages will be completed by 2015.
The village will be a living exhibit, depicting the daily life and customs of all of the 54 peoples in the nation. Construction began in Dong Mo district in the northern province of Ha Tay last year.Covering an area of 198 hectares, the village will recreate the daily activities of local inhabitants, including the manufacture of tools and handicraft products and wet-rice cultivation.It will also provide a glimpse into the culture, traditions and religious architecture of the 54 peoples and act as a gathering point for local festivals and sport activities.More than VND3.2 trillion (over US$200 million) will be spent on the national culture and tourism project.