THE MUONG

Derivatives:  Moi, Mual, Moi, Moi Bi, Au Ta and Ao Ta

Population:  over 1,137,515 people (as of 1999)

Locality:  Mainly in Hoa Binh Province and the mountainous areas of Thanh Hoa Province. 

Customs and culture
Earlier the "lang dao" system ruled the Muong regions. A head of a "muong" was a "lang cun", "lang xom", or "dao xom" and everyone else lives under the protection of the chief who they were supposed to work for. This system lasted mainly until 1945.

Muong tend to follow polytheism and practise ancestor worshipping.
Language: The Muong language belongs to the Viet-Muong group, a sub-group of Austro-Asiatic Group.

Dress:
Men dress in indigo-dyed pajamas. Women wear white rectangular scarves, bras, long skirts, and short vests that are open at the front.
The skirt is accommpanied by an embroidered belt.  Muong's ladies' attire is similar to that of the Thai.

Economy:
The Muong have practiced wet rice agriculture for a long time.