Ethnic Group Xo Dang

Name of ethnic group: Xo Dang (Xe Dang, Ca Dong, To Dra, Ha Lang, Mo Nam, Ta Tri, Ka Rang, Bri La Teng, and Con Lan)

Population: 127,148 people (Year 1999)

Locality: The Xo Dang are concentrated in Kon Tum Province and scattered in the mountainous areas of Quang Ngai and Quang Nam provinces.

Customs and habits: The Xo Dang believe in animism and worship many spirits related to the production of food and life. Each village has a “Rong” (communal house), and the roof of this communal house forms two steeply rising surfaces that resemble an ax-head. The village chief is the most respected person in the community and all village affairs are managed by the chief.

Xo Dang people do not have family names as the proper name consists of only one word with a prefix indicating the sex of the person, “A” for men, and “Y” for women. Male and female adults are allowed to seek their own love. The Xo Dang wedding is very simple. After the wedding, the married couple lives in rotation of their families for a few years.

Culture: The Xo Dang belong to the Mon-Khmer Group. The buffalo stabbing ritual is held annually. The Xo Dang enjoy singing, dancing, playing gongs, and telling old tales. Xo Dang men are good at architecture, sculpting, and painting.

Economy: Farming is the main form of income generation. Cattle and poultry raising, hunting, picking and gathering, fishing, basketry, weaving, and blacksmithing are other ways the Xo Dang survive.