THE XTIENG

Derivatives: Stieng, Xtieng, Xa Dieng

Population: 66,788 people (as of 1999)

Locality: Nothern areas of Binh Phuong, Dong Nai and Tay Ninh Provinces.

Customs and culture:
Each family has their own house with a few generations sharing the same roof. Each village has  a village chief who is among the oldest, experienced with village affairs and most respected by the villagers.

The Xtieng can marry people from other lineages. The bride would come and live with her husband's family.

The Xtieng practise animism, and believe in supernatural power of Gods of Thunder, Lightning, Heaven and Earth.

The six-gong set made from bamboo panpipe is very popular.

Language:  The Xtieng language belongs to the Mon-Khmer Group.

Dress: Xtieng women wear skirts and men wear loincloths. All costumes are colorfully and carefully hand-woven and embroidered. The women would tend to wear earrings, bracelets made from metal or ivory.

Economy: The Xtieng cultivate wet rice and use oxen and water buffaloes as draught animal