The Bahnar People / Vietnam

The Ba Na Mountain People are one of the 53 ethnic groups in Vietnam. They live in houses built on stilts. In each village, there is a communal house called "rong" which stands out due to its height and beauty. 

 A "Rong" - communal house

According to matrimonial customs, a young man and woman can take the initiative in marriage, and the parents are only involved to ensure the respect of traditional principles. 

 Young Couple

After the birth of the first child, they are allowed to set up their own family environment which is often in very remoted areas. The Ba Na venerates the spirits which relate to human beings.

Schacks of a bahnar family / Central Highlands Vietnam

Their main source of income is slash-and-burn agriculture and the rearing of livestock. But also hunting with traps is very common to set up the living condition.

The Bahnar People mostly hunt small animals with traps

All the herbs they need for cooking come from the forest

The men hunt, collect the herbs and inflame the fire

while preparing the dinner is the duty of the women

but sometimes the man assists in preparing the dishes

While the children are learning by doing how to cook grashoper with peanuts

Normaly the men have tea or are just sitting around the fire after dinner...

...while the woman is on her own, not participating in the discussion

 The next Morning

Because of living far away from the next village, the children don´t go to school very often. However they get free schoolbooks from the government, but instead of forcing their children to read, the parents use the pages of the books to roll cigarettes.

This boy is making a toy aproving his ability to handicraft wooden tools like crossbows 

While the men enjoy staying at home....

...the wife is to shoulder the youngest kid...

... for going out to the fieldwork. The man stays at home preparing hunting traps.