The Katuic Ethnic Group at the Vietnam-Laos Border and Existing Problems with Ethnic Groups Classification

Abstract

According to the 2019 Population and Housing Census by the Vietnamese Government, there are 54 ethnic groups listed in Vietnam. There remains much confusion about some of them such as Giẻ Triêng, Sán Chay/Cao Lan-Sán Chi/Sán Chí, as well as existing ethnic groups that in fact are not listed, like Arem, Đan Lai, Kađô, Nguồn, Pako and Tà Mun. Although these groups are currently classified as ethnic groups living close to the listed ethnic groups, this classification is still rather reluctant. In fact, considering "ethnic self-awareness", people would not be satisfied with being put into a group with different culture or language. The problem of ethnic group classification have arisen in the Katuic language group in Vietnam.