Published:  13:36 Wednesday - December 07, 2011

Have you ever known about a festival conjuring up the spirits of the dead whenever there are sick people in the Khang' s village? This is the type of indispensable folk belief in the spiritual life of Khang ethnic group. The Khang' s culture has a great deal of interesting things which you can explore.

Name of ethnic group: Khang (Xa Khao, Xa Xua, Xa Don, Xa Dang, Xa Hoc, Xa Ai, Xa Bung, and Quang Lam)

Population: 10,272 people (Year 1999)

Locality: Son La and Lai Chau provinces.

Customs and habits: The Khang live in houses built on stilts, with three rooms. Each house has two kitchens, one kitchen is used to cook daily meals and the other is used to warm and cook meals which are offered to worship dead parents. Khang marriage ceremonies go through three steps. First, a marriage proposal is made. Next, parental approval is sought; and finally the wedding occurs. The first stage is held for the groom's family and the second stage is held in order to accompany the bride to her husband's home.

Culture: Khang language belongs to the Mon-Khmer Group.

Costumes: Khang women dye their teeth black and chew betel like the Thai.

Economy: The Khang mainly practice slash-and-burn cultivation using traditional techniques such as digging holes and planting seeds in these holes. They grow sticky rice which serves as their food staple. Their weaving products include chairs, baskets, flat baskets, suitcases, packs, and wooden boats. The Khang also grow cotton and exchange it for cloth and garments.