List of ethnic groups in Vietnam


There are 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam recognized by the Vietnamese government. Each ethnicity their own language, traditions, and subculture. The largest ethnic groups are: Kinh 85.32%, Tay 1.92%, Tai 1.89%, Mường 1.51%, Hmong 1.45%, Khmer 1.37%, Nùng 1.13%, Dao 0.93%, Hoa 0.78%, with all others comprising the remaining 3.7%.
The Vietnamese term for ethnic group is người thiểu số or dân tộc thiểu số. The term thieu so is derived from Chinese / Han Viet 少数 or Shaoshu.

List of ethnic groups

The total population of Vietnam was 96,208,984 according to the 2019 census.
GroupPeople2009
census		2019 censusDistribution
Note
Total85,846,99796,208,984
1. VieticKinh73,594,42782,085,826throughout Vietnamalso called Viet, the largest ethnic group in Vietnam
1. VieticChứt6,0227,513Quảng Bình Cheut - related to the Kinh
1. VieticMường1,268,9631,452,095Hòa Bình, Thanh Hóa, Phú Thọ, Sơn La, Ninh Bình closest to the Kinh, the other main part of the Viet–Mường branch of the Vietic subfamily
1. VieticThổ74,45891,430Nghệ An, Thanh Hóa Tho - Related to Kinh Vietnamese
2. Austroasiatic Ba Na227,716286,910Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Phú Yên Bahnar
2. Austroasiatic Brâu397525Kon Tum Brau
2. Austroasiatic Bru74,50694,598Quảng Trị, Quảng Bình, Đăk Lăk Bru
2. Austroasiatic Chơ Ro26,85529,520Đồng Nai, Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu, Bình Thuận
2. Austroasiatic Co33,81740,442Quảng Ngãi, Quảng Nam
2. Austroasiatic Cờ Ho166,112200,800Lâm Đồng Koho
2. Austroasiatic Cơ Tu61,58874,173Quảng Nam, Thừa Thiên-Huế
2. Austroasiatic Giẻ Triêng50,96263,322Kon Tum, Quảng Nam
2. Austroasiatic Hrê127,420149,460Quảng Ngãi H're
2. Austroasiatic Kháng13,84016,180Sơn La, Điện Biên
2. Austroasiatic Khmer1,260,6401,319,652Sóc Trăng, Trà Vinh, Kiên Giang, An Giang, Bạc Liêu, Cà Mau Khmer
2. Austroasiatic Khơ Mú72,92990,612Nghệ An, Điện Biên, Sơn La, Lai Châu Khmu
2. Austroasiatic Mạ41,40550,322Lâm Đồng, Đắk Nông, Đồng Nai
2. Austroasiatic Mảng3,7004,650Lai Châu
2. Austroasiatic Mnông102,741127,334Đăk Lăk, Đăk Nông Mnong
2. Austroasiatic Ơ Đu376428Nghệ An
2. Austroasiatic Rơ Măm436639Kon Tum
2. Austroasiatic Tà Ôi43,88652,356Thừa Thiên-Huế, Quảng Trị Ta Oi
2. Austroasiatic Xinh Mun23,27829,503Sơn La, Điện Biên Xinh-mun
2. Austroasiatic Xơ Đăng169,501212,277Kon Tum, Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi Sedang, Xo Dang
2. Austroasiatic X’Tiêng85,436100,752Bình Phước Stieng
3. Tai–Kadai,
Tai		Bố Y2,2733,232Lào Cai, Hà Giang Bouyei
3. Tai–Kadai,
Tai		Giáy58,61767,858Lào Cai, Hà Giang, Lai Châu, Yên Bái
3. Tai–Kadai,
Tai		Lao14,92817,532Lai Châu, Điện Biên, Sơn La
3. Tai–Kadai,
Tai		Lự5,6016,757Lai Châu Lu
3. Tai–Kadai,
Tai		Nùng968,8001,083,298Lạng Sơn, Cao Bằng, Bắc Giang
3. Tai–Kadai,
Tai		Sán Chay169,410201,398Tuyên Quang, Thái Nguyên, Bắc Giang,San Chay, Cao Lan
3. Tai–Kadai,
Tai		Tày1,626,3921,845,492northern VietnamTay - The largest minority in Vietnam
3. Tai–Kadai,
Tai		Thái1,550,4231,820,950northern VietnamIncluding Tai Daeng, Tai Dón, Tai Dam and other minor groups
4. Tai-Kadai,
Kra		Cờ Lao2,6364,003Hà Giang Gelao
4. Tai-Kadai,
Kra		La Chí13,15815,126Hà Giang, Lào Cai, Tuyên Quang Lachi
4. Tai-Kadai,
Kra		La Ha8,17710,157Sơn La Laha
4. Tai-Kadai,
Kra		Pu Péo687903Hà Giang, Tuyên Quang Qabiao, Pubiao
5. Hmong–MienDao751,067891,151northern VietnamYao people, also known as Mien, many speak Iu Mien language
5. Hmong–MienHmong1,068,1891,393,547northern Vietnamformerly known as Mèo, classified as Miao in China
5. Hmong–MienPà Thẻn6,8118,248Hà Giang, Tuyên Quang Pa-Hng
6. Malayo-PolynesianChăm161,729178,948Ninh Thuận, Bình Thuận, Phú Yên, An Giang Cham - Descendants of the Champa polities of Southern Vietnam
6. Malayo-PolynesianChu Ru19,31423,242Lâm Đồng Chru
6. Malayo-PolynesianÊ Đê331,194398,671Đăk Lăk, Phú Yên Rade
6. Malayo-PolynesianGia Rai411,275513,930Gia Lai, ngoài ra còn có ở Kon Tum, Đắk Lắk Jarai
6. Malayo-PolynesianRa Glai122,245146,613Ninh Thuận, Khánh Hòa, Bình Thuận Roglai
7. Sino-Tibetan languages, Chinese languagesHoa823,071749,466Hồ Chí Minh City, Đồng Nai, Sóc Trăng, Kiên Giang, Bạc Liêu, Bình Dương, Bắc Giang Constitute those who have Chinese of Mandarin-speaking background. Not to be confused with the Ngái Hokkien, who are classified separately.
7. Sino-Tibetan languages, Chinese languagesNgái1,0351,649Thái Nguyên, Bình Thuận Hakka Chinese, classified separately from the Hoa
7. Sino-Tibetan languages, Chinese languagesSán Dìu146,821183,004Thái Nguyên, Vĩnh Phúc, Bắc Giang, Quảng Ninh, Tuyên Quang San Diu, Yao that speak Cantonese, though some know Iu Mien
7. Sino-Tibetan languages, Chinese languagesPhunoi2,0292,729Lai Châu, Điện Biên Cống
7. Sino-Tibetan languages, Chinese languagesHà Nhì21,72525,539Lai Châu, Lào Cai, Điện Biên Hani
7. Sino-Tibetan languages, Chinese languagesLa Hủ9,65112,113Lai Châu Lahu
7. Sino-Tibetan languages, Chinese languagesLô Lô4,5414,827Cao Bằng, Hà Giang, Lai Châu Yi
7. Sino-Tibetan languages, Chinese languagesPhù Lá10,94412,471Lào Cai, Yên Bái, Hà Giang, Điện Biên
7. Sino-Tibetan languages, Chinese languagesSi La709909Lai Châu, Điện Biên

Other

  1. Nguồn - possibly Mường group, officially classified as a Việt group by the government, Nguồn themselves identify with Việt ethnicity; their language is a member of the Viet–Muong branch of the Vietic sub-family
  2. Sui people - officially classified as Pa Then people.
  3. According to news from Dantri, an online newspaper in Vietnam, the Thừa Thiên-Huế People's Committee in September 2008 announced a plan to do more research in a new ethnic group in Vietnam. It is Pa Kô, also called Pa Cô, Pa Kô, Pa-Kô or Pa Kôh. This ethnic group settles mainly in A Lưới suburban district and mountainous area of Hướng Hóa. At the present, however, they have been being classified in Tà Ôi ethnic group.
  4. Bunong / Pnong people. This ethnic group lives mainly in North East Cambodia, but during the American War many fled into Vietnam in the central highlands region around Buon Ma Thuot province. While most returned to their homeland in Cambodia after the war, a small number remain in Vietnam as evidenced by the story of . Though presumably the number of Bunong people remaining in Vietnam is very low. The Christian and Missionary Alliance have targeted this minority group in Cambodia and seem to be the only organization publishing much information about their history.
Many of the local ethnic groups residing in mountain areas are known collectively in the West as Montagnard or Degar. One distinctive feature of highland ethnic minority groups in Vietnam is that they are colorfully attired whether at home, in the farm, traveling or in their home town.
Foreign expatriate workers comprise a small portion of the population, some settling permanently or through marriage. Many are migrants from neighboring Asian countries like China, though some are from the west. Today, 2,700 Americans live in Vietnam. Moreover, some descend from the French and other Europeans from the colonial period. However, most European descendants left after Vietnam gained independence.

Citations