Published:  03:15 Wednesday - December 07, 2011

Like other ethnic groups, the Hre people have "buffalo stabbing" Festival considered a common custom in Western Highland. They like writing poem, song and other musical instruments. Ka - choi and Ka - leu are their familiar folk-songs.

Name of ethnic group: Hre (Cham Re, Chom Kre and Luy)

Population: 113,111 people (Year 1999)

Locality: The western parts of Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh provinces.

Customs and habits: The Hre are atheists. The small-sized nuclear family unit is very common among the Hre. They live in stilt houses and the village chief is considered to have high prestige and plays an important role in village life.

Culture: The Hre language belongs to the Mon-Khmer Group and has close ties to the Xo-Dang and Ba Na languages. The Hre often hold buffalo-stabbing ceremonies which are accompanied by verses and songs. The Ka choi and Ka leu are two very popular tunes. Their musical instruments include the Brook, Ching Ka la, Ling Ia (traversal flute), and Ta lia (longitudinal flute).

Costumes: Men wear loincloths and waist-deep vests. They may also remain bare chested and wear turbans as headgear.

Economy: The Hre grow wet rice and farm. Basketry and weaving are other forms of income generation.