1 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY,HA NOI
INSTITUTE OF VIETNAMESE STUDIES AND DEVELOPMENT SCIENCES
DUONG THUY LINH

CULTURAL CHANGES IN MARIAGE
AND FUNERAL CUSTOMS OF SAN DIU PEOPLE
IN PHU BINH DISTRICT, THAI NGUYEN PROVINCE
MASTER THESIS
Major: VIETNAMESE STUDIES
Hanoi – 2012

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1
LIST OF TABLES 5
INTRODUCTION 6
1. Reasons for choosing this issue 6
2. Background information on this issue 8
3. Purposes, objects and scope of the research 11
3.1. Purposes of the research 11
3.2. Objects and scopes of the research 11
4. Theoretical bases and research methods 12
5. Contribution of the thesis 13
6. Layout of the thesis 13
CONTENTS 14
Chapter 1: GENERAL GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION OF PHU BINH DISTRICT –
THAI NGUYEN PRIVINCE AND THE SAN DIU ETHNIC GROUP 14
1.1. Geographic location and natural conditions 14
1.1.1. Geographic location 14
1.1.2. Natural conditions 15
1.2. Social and economic situation 17
1.3. San Diu People in Phu Binh District - Thai Nguyen Province 21
1.3.1. The people’s name, historical origin and population 21
1.3.2. Social organization 25
1.3.3. Livelihood culture 28
1.3.4. Material culture 29
1.3.5. Spiritual culture 32
Sub - conclusion for chapter 1 35

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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1.1: Population Phu Binh district divided by ethnicity, gender, and
urban and rural areas.
Table 1.2: Population of the San Diu in Phu Binh district, Thai Nguyen
province.
Table 4.1: Comparison of changes in the role of grandparents each
wedding in San Diu - Phu Binh Thai Nguyen.
Table 4.2: The comparison table shows the changes over the years in the
wedding the San Diu - Phu Binh Thai Nguyen.
Table 4.3: The comparison table shows the change in the person's
wedding San Diu - Phu Binh - Thai Nguyen by age.
Table 4.4: The table shows a principle than inner hair San Diu some
hooks of the distance that you put - Phu Binh Thai Nguyen.
Table 4.5: Comparison table shows the change in the marriage customs of
the San Diu - Phu Binh Thai Nguyen in the Media and now
Table 4.6: Comparison table shows the change in the funeral customs of
the San Diu - Phu Binh Thai Nguyen in traditional and today.

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INTRODUCTION
1. Reasons for choosing this issue
Vietnamese culture is the culture of “diversity in unity ". It is the
convergence of cultural values of the 54 ethnic groups living in the territory of
Vietnam. During their history and development, each group has created typical
traditional cultural values for themselves. Each ethnic group has their own
cultural values; and through history these cultural values become their cultural
identities, contributing to the multi-nuanced culture of Vietnam.
Cultural identity is one out of three criteria to determine the ethnic
structure in Vietnam. So, the existence of each group is attached with their

which is ground for prosperity of every group’s culture. Every San Diu person,
from birth till death, goes though their group’s life cycle rites, which helps
building their cultural values. Studying their life cycle rites is a must if we want
to study their cultural values.
The major milestones in each person’s life are marked by following
rituals: marriage, giving birth and funeral, which are the turning points of his
(her) life. They enable development inside each person in accordance with
natural laws and under impact of social ones. The issue of studying San Diu
people’s cultures in general and the issue of explaining the changes in life cycle
rites in particular remain unsolved.
Thinking of that we decided to choose to do research on this issue
“Cultural changes in marriage and funeral customs of San Diu people in Phu
Binh District, Thai Nguyen Province” with which we aims to show significant
changes in marriage and funeral customs of the local San Diu People, firstly to
contribute to the study of cultural characters of ethnic minorities in Vietnam,
and finally to make ground for the study of Vietnamese cultural characters.

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We hope that this research upon completion will help understanding more
of San Diu People’s culture, as well as cultures of all the ethnic groups in
Vietnam; and basing on that to propose suitable policies about preserving and
promoting cultural values of marriage and funeral customs, two of the life cycle
rites of San Diu People in Phu Binh District, Thai Nguyen Province in particular
and San Diu People all around the country in general.
2. Background information on this issue
In the last few years, the trend to study and research on traditional ethnic
cultures has become more and more popular. Although the ethnic minorities
only cover about 13% total population, each of them owns unique culture and
customs, which creates the national diversified-but-unified culture, the

in their houses, costumes, food, and spiritual cultures in their rituals like
marriage and funeral, etc.
“Dan Toc San Diu o Bac Giang”, written by Ngo Van Tru and Nguyen
Xuan Can (main editor), by National Culture Press, Hanoi, 2003, is a full picture
of San Diu people in Bac Giang, presenting in details from history, name, living
territory, etc., to traditional economic activities, food, traditional costumes,
rituals and customs related to life cycle.
The author Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, in his book “Van Hoa Truyen Thong
San Diu o Tuyen Quang”, published in 2011, also gives the most general
overview of the history of this people, as well as their residence and cultural
identities in Tuyen Quang Province.
These above mentioned researches provide a useful theoretical ground
and comparative object for me to objectively study the cultural changes of the
San Diu minority in Phu Binh through their customs of marriage and funeral.

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Dr. Nguyen Thi Que Loan has deeply studied the eating habits of the
people, and reflected the result in her doctorial thesis “Tap Quan An Uong cua
Nguoi San Diu o Thai Nguyen”. This thesis discusses in details about the
traditional sources of their foods, their traditional methods of preparing foods
and drinks, as well as changes of these customs when the people exchange and
learn from other groups.
Related to the above issue, Dr. Nguyen Thi Que Loan also wrote a post on
the Ethnology Magazine, “Bien Doi Trong Tap Quan An Uong cua Nguoi San
Diu Tinh Thai Nguyen”.
Researcher Le Minh Chinh had a study on San Diu People in Thai
Nguyen majoring in medical aspect called “Thuc Trang Thieu Mau o Phu Nu
San Diu Trong Thoi Ky Mang Thai tai Huyen Dong Hy Tinh Thai Nguyen va
Hieu Qua cua Bien Phap Can Thiep”.

in particular.
- Marriage customs and funeral rituals are related to people’s viewpoints
on their spirit, universe and life. Thus, researching on changes of these fields is
an approach to San Diu people’s viewpoints on marriage and funeral.
- Researching on changes in marriage and funeral customs in their life
cycle rites plays an important role in building the local cultural life. Thanks to
this, some proposals to promote good cultural values and to remove existing bad
rituals from their spiritual life.
3.2. Objects and scopes of the research
- Objects of the research are major changes in marriage and funeral
customs of San Diu ethnic minority in Phu Binh District, Thai Nguyen Province,
and the causes of these changes. The research bases on the comparison of the
present customs with the ones in the past, through which the cultural values in

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their rituals and their relationship, among family members and among the public
are clearly exposed.

- Scopes of the research:
In term of space: The research is done in Phu Binh District, Thai Nguyen
Province, with a focus on the two communes Ban Dat and Tan Khanh, where
there is the highest density of San Diu ethnic people.
In term of time: The research on cultural characteristics of San Diu ethnic
group in Phu Binh District, Thai Nguyen Province from the past to present in the
comparative approach.
4. Theoretical bases and research methods
- Theoretical bases
The thesis is written basing on the dialectical and historical materialist
perspectives of Marxism - Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thoughts, and perspectives

- The research result will help building a scientific basis for cultural,
educational and social policies, in which an essential is preserving the good
traditional cultural values, and discontinuing the pessimistic and costly rituals
which limit the development of people’s awareness and society. This is
importantly related to building a new cultural living style in the public in the
period of national industrialization and modernization.
6. Layout of the thesis
Besides the Introduction and Conclusion, the thesis includes three
chapters:
Chapter 1: General geographic information of Phu Binh district - Thai
Nguyen province and the San Diu ethnic group.

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Chapter 2: Tradition and change in marriage customs of San Diu people in
Phu Binh district, Thai Nguyen province.
Chapter 3: Tradition and change in funeral customs of San Diu people in
Phu Binh district, Thai Nguyen province.
Chapter 4: Cutural values in in marriage and funeral customs of San Diu
people in Phu Binh district, Thai Nguyen province.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1: GENERAL GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION OF PHU BINH
DISTRICT – THAI NGUYEN PRIVINCE AND THE SAN DIU ETHNIC
GROUP
1.1. Geographic location and natural conditions
1.1.1. Geographic location
In Ly Dynasty, the nowadays Phu Binh District was called Tu Nong
District, Thai Nguyen Territory (Chau Thai Nguyen). In Minh Dynasty it was in
Thai Nguyen District (Phu Thai Nguyen). In Le Dynasty, it was in Thai Nguyen
Province (Thai Nguyen thua tuyen), which was then renamed into Ninh Soc

23' and 21
0
35',
eastern longitudes 105
0
51' and 106
0
02'.
It borders Dong Hy District to the North and Northwest, Pho Yen District
and Thai Nguyen City to the Southwest and West, Yen The District (Bac Giang
Province) to the East, and Hiep Hoa District (Bac Giang) to the South.
Phu Binh District is the farthest southern point of Thai Nguyen Province.
It is not far from Thai Nguyen City (28 kilometers from district center to city
center), Gang Thep industrial zone, Hanoi Capital, and conveniently located on
the national traffic roads, so it is very easy and quick for its market economy and
the social and economic exchanges with these centers to develop, which is an
important ground advantage for Phu Binh District to move forward rapidly and
firmly in the time of industrialization and modernization in this 21
st
century.
1.1.2. Natural conditions
Total area of the district is 249.36 km
2
in which the largest section is used
for agricultural purposes: 13,845.93 ha (55.52% total area) [30, p. 1].
- Topography: the average gradient of about 0.04% decreases from
Northeast to Southwest; the average height difference is 14m, the lowest one of

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- River system: Phu Binh District has the rich water supply of two rivers
and three small streams.

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The Cau River, a river in the system of Thai Binh rivers, derives in Cho
Don District - Bac Kan Province. It runs through several districts such as Bach
Thong, Phu Luong, Vo Nhai, then runs in northwest - southeast direction to Thai
Nguyen City, Phu Binh District, Pho Yen District and Bac Giang Province. Its
part in Phu Binh District is 29 kilometers long, starting from Thac Huong Dam
(Dong Lien Commune), running through 9 other communes and finally entering
Pho Yen District in Cha Commune. The average width of the river is 120 meter.
This river is a quite convenient waterway and a rich source of water for farming.
The Dao River (also known as Mang River) which derives from Thac
Huong Dam (Dong Lien Commune) runs through nine communes with the total
length of 31 kilometers before entering Bac Giang Province and joining the
Thuong River. This river is an important part of the huge irrigation system
supplying water for 1800 hectares of farms in Phu Binh District and thousands
of farms in Hiep Hoa, Tan Yen and Yen The Districts - Bac Giang Province.
Phu Binh District also has three main small streams deriving from
northeast area running through Ban Dat, Dao Xa, Tan Khanh, Tan Kim and Tan
Thanh Communes and falling into the Cau River.
Such river system has made it much easier to develop farming in Phu
Binh District.
1.2. Social and economic situation
* Economy:
Local residents in Phu Binh District mainly live on agriculture. The
farming land area is 13,845.93 hectares of which 10,085.14 hectares is used for
annual plants, 2,296.55 hectares for gardens, 1,060.43 hectares for perennial
trees [32, p.1, 2]. With such a potential and hard-working people with rich

3.9% (especially farming production increased by 5.2% (thanks to the two
successful rice crops, the most productive crops ever before, other crops quite

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stable and favorable). Total grain output of the whole year was 75,877 tons, an
increase of 3.7% over 2010.
Total state budget revenue in the area was estimated at 48.5 billion dongs.
The production value of industry and small-scale industry (at constant
price of 1994) was estimated at 75 billion dongs.
Meat finisher output was 17,000 tons, increasing 6.25% over 2010.
The district forest area was 351 hectares, an increase of 56.5% over 2010.
The production value per 1 hectare of farming land (present price) was
estimated at 67 million dongs, increasing 9 million over the plan.
Forest coverage rate reached 25%.
* Society:
According to the preliminary population census of Phu Binh District, as
on April 1
st
, 2009 its total population is 133,322 people in 34,963 households, of
which the rural population is 125,887 people, and urban population is 7435
people. The average population density is 556 people per square kilometer,
coming second after Thai Nguyen City.
Besides land and natural resources, the potential in labor force of Phu
Binh District is noteworthy.
In 2011, Phu Binh District has created new jobs for 3,100 employees,
equally 103% of plan targets, of which 130 people are sent to work abroad under
predefined period, equally 108.3% of the plan of the year; District vocational
training center provided training and associated training for over 702 people,
equally 140% of the plan, 96.8% of which have been employed immediately

Infrastructures: the traffic system has received great interest and
investment; the project of renovating and upgrading Highway 37 has been
completed; many inter-communal roads have been invested to widen and asphalt

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such as Cau May - Tan Kim - Tan Khach Road, Cau May- Dong Lien Road, Uc
Son - Tan Thanh - Hop Tien Road, and many others are under plans to be built
in the short coming time. Facilities for schools, classes, hospitals, and clinics
have been being well invested. All villages have been provided with national
electricity to use in daily life and production. These are favorable conditions to
evoke potentials and strengths, to boost the economy of the mountainous areas
with large ethnic minorities.
Road system of Phu Binh District is relatively dense. Highway 37 from
Thai Nguyen City runs through the entire length of the district to Bac Giang.
National Highway 38 from Diem Thuy via Ha Chau and Kha Son to Nha Nam
(Bac Giang). In addition to the two main highways, Phu Binh also has 120
kilometers of inter-communal, 198 kilometers of inter-village roads, enabling
car drive in every village in the district.
Social security situation: the political security and social safety in the
district is always stable; all ethnic minorities in the district absolutely believe in
the leadership of the Party and local authorities. The communes of Tan Khanh,
Tan Hoa, Tan Kim, Ban Dat and Dong Lien have done good work in keeping
security in the border areas over the years.
1.3. San Diu People in Phu Binh District - Thai Nguyen Province
1.3.1. The people’s name, historical origin and population
In Vietnam San Diu people is a minority group with small population,
living mainly in the North: about 40,000 people, living on some low hills of the
Quang Ninh, Hung Yen, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Bac Kan,
Thai Nguyen, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, and Thanh Hoa [31, p. 396].

Southeast sides of Tam Dao Range in nowadays Vinh Phu, Ha Tuyen and Bac
Thai provinces”[16, p. 22].

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In Phu Binh District there are many peoples residing together such as:
Chinese, Nung, San Chay, Dzao, H’mong, etc. The population of Phu Binh
District - Thai Nguyen Province was 134,150 people according to statistic of the
01/04/2009 census, in which San Diu people’s population was 3115, accounting
for 2.3% of the district population. Table 1.1: Phu Binh District’s population by ethnicity, gender, urban and
rural area
Ethnicity
Total
Urban
Rural
Total
%
Male
Female
Total
Male
Female
Total
Male
Female
Total
134150

1743
929
814
3.Nung
4594
3.42
2361
2233
108
44
64
4486
2317
2169
4.San Diu
3115
2.32
1521
1594
7
1
6
3108
1520
1588
5.San
Chay
19
0.01
3

207
0.15
123
84
0
0
0
207
123
84
9.Other
102
0.08
37
65
11
7
4
91
30
61
Source: [26, p.119]
In Phu Binh District - Thai Nguyen Province, San Diu people are present in
mostly every commune, but the majority of them are in the two communes of Ban

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Dat and Tan Khanh, which, respectively, count for 81 percents and 11.7 percents
of their total population of the district. Despite the scattered distribution in several
communes of the district, their culture is identical. Thus, our real research has

7372
322
4
Tan Kim
1774
7646
21
5
Tan Thanh
1293
5472
5
6
Tan Hoa
1962
8289
8
7
Tan Duc
2065
8651
11
8
Uc ky
1318
5586
27
9
Xuan Phuong
1835

7432
1

25

16
Thanh Ninh
1235
4410
6
17
Ha Chau
1358
2538
2
18
Thuong Dinh
2104
8509
6
19
Nga My
2330
9672
3
20
Huong Son
2170
7751
7