A collection of photographs from fieldwork on Tai ethnic groups in Vietnam from 1999 to 2002
Tai Muong Qua – In 1999, the team studied the Tai people in Mun Sen (Muong Qua) commune, Con Cuong district, Nghe An province. This region was historically part of the Sip Song Chu Tai territory and has long been inhabited by Tai and other ethnic groups. The Tai Thanh and Tai Muong groups are especially numerous in Muong Qua. The researchers collected basic data on Muong Qua (now Mun Sen commune, Con Cuong district, Nghe An province), covering: 1) settlement history, 2) geographical features, 3) social, economic, and governing characteristics, including Tai Thanh housing, family and kinship systems, clothing, folklore, music and dance, healthcare, economic structure, and administration, and 4) traditions, rituals, and beliefs.
Tai and Laji People – In 2000, Sumit Pitiphat, Samerchai Poolsuwan, and Pichet Saiphan surveyed the Tai and Laji ethnic groups in northern Vietnam. Their preliminary study on the livelihoods of these Tai-Kadai language family groups covered topics such as past governance, house construction, clothing, economic systems, family and kinship, language, script, beliefs, important life rituals, ancestral spirit worship, and the role of ritual leaders.
Tai Dam in Sip Song Chu Tai – In 2000, Sumit Pitiphat studied the religion and beliefs of the Tai Dam in Sip Song Chu Tai. His data collection covered the historical background of the Tai Dam ethnic group in the Sip Song Chu Tai region of northwestern Vietnam, which borders Laos. The study also included information on community structure, housing, families, and various rituals.
Tai Daeng – In 2002, Sumit Pitiphat, Thiamjitt Puangsomjit, and Pichet Saiphan studied the living conditions and cultural changes of the Tai Daeng ethnic group in Ba Thuoc district, Thanh Hoa province.
The research team surveyed the living conditions, economy, and cultural changes of the Tai Daeng people in Tom and Jang villages in Ba Thuoc district, Thanh Hoa province. Important data that were collected are: 1) the history of the Tai Daeng ethnic group in Vietnam, 2) the former governance of Thanh Hoa province, 3) the Tai Daeng’s way of life, including their housing, clothing, occupations, marriage and family characteristics, food, and hospitality, 4) beliefs and rituals, including fundamental beliefs, community rituals, life cycle rituals, and farming rituals, and 5) the Tai Daeng and cultural change, including their cultural proximity to other ethnic groups and rituals and social change.
Giay, Tai, and Kaolan – From 2000 to 2001, Sumit Pitiphat, Pichet Saiphan, Narisa Dejsupa, and Tiamjit Puangsomjit conducted a study on Tai ethnic groups in northern Vietnam, namely the Giay, Tay, and Cao Lan. This was a preliminary survey of their livelihoods in Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces. The survey gathered basic information on Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces, including their geography, administration, population, ethnic groups, natural resources, settlement patterns, physical characteristics of settlements, community history, occupations, clothing, past governance, beliefs, yearly rituals of Giay, and life-cycle rituals for birth, marriage, and death.
Tai Lue – The collection also includes photos from a 2004 survey of the Tai Lue people in Ban Kong Ngio, Than Uyen district, Lai Chau province.
