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The Nung have about
706,000 inhabitants living in the provinces
of Lang Son, Cao Bang, Bac Thai, Ha Bac and
Tuyen Quang. They have other names such as
Xuong, Giang, Nung An, Nung Coi, Phan Sinh,
Nung Chao, Nung lnh, Qui Rin, Nung Din and
Khen Lai.
Nung language is close to that of the Tay
and belongs to the Tay-Thai Group. Nung has
writings called Nom Nung (Nung demonic
scripts) which has prevailed since the 17th
century.
The Nung mainly worship their ancestors. The
altar is placed in a bay of the house and
above it hungs the altar to deities, genies,
saints. Confucian and Kwan Yin.
The Nung live on rice and corn. They
cultivate rice either in submerged fields
along the ravines and in terraced fields on
the hillsides. They grow cash crops and
fruit trees such as tangerines and
persimmons. Anise is the most valuable trees
of the Nung which has brought them high
profit every year. Handicrafts are a
continuing activity, particularly weaving
cloth to supply local needs, then come
carpentry, blacksmithing, basketry and
ceramicware-making.
The Nung villages are often set up on the
hillsides, in front of them are the
submerged fields and behind are burnt- over
land and gardens. The Nung houses are built
on stilts. made by wood structure and the
roof is covered with tiles or thatch.
The Nung wear indigo attire. Deeply in the
Vietnamese people's memory, President Ho Chi
Minh often wore indigo vest of Nung style to
keep him warm in the cold days when he lived
in Pac Bo cave in 1941 to be active in
national revolution. after he turned back
from abroad. In certain regions, ancient
stories retrace about indigo colour and a
faithful love of a woman who persistently
waits for her husband back from the battle-
field. The Nung consider indigo a symbol of
loyalty. The Nung prefer fried dishes with
pig fat. A unique and luxurious dish of the
Nung is khau nhuc. Cross-drink became a
long-standing custom of the Nung.
The Nung preserve an abundant treasury of
folk arts and culture including folksongs,
alternative songs (sli). Smooth melodies of
sli in harmony with natural sound of the
forests and mountains are deeply impressive
to those who once came to Nung region. Then
is a folksong combined by elements: verses,
music, decoration and performance style.
Lung tung (going to the fields)
ceremony is very well-known and attractive
to people of all ages. It is always
organized on the first month of the lunar
year.
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