Traditional Relations with the Viet Majority

Historically, the ethnic minorities of Vietnam maintained a complex relationship with the ruling Viet kings. While they were expected to pay tribute, they were largely left to manage their own affairs. This dynamic shifted significantly with the arrival of Catholic missionaries in the Central Highlands, who converted many ethnic groups—later called Montagnards by the French—to Christianity.

Under French colonial rule in the late 19th century, minorities experienced limited autonomy but faced severe hardships, including land expropriation, forced labor, and heavy taxation. These abuses sparked widespread discontent, leading to rebellions, notably among the Hmong in the early 20th century.

The Northern Mountains: Complex Alliances

The French exploited longstanding tensions between highland and lowland communities. In the northwest, they established a semi-autonomous Thai federation, complete with armed militias. Many groups, including the Thai, Hmong, and Muong, aligned with the French during the First Indochina War (1946–1954), even forming battalions to fight against the Vietnamese.

However, allegiances were not uniform. While some Thai groups supported the Viet Minh, Ho Chi Minh garnered strong backing from the Tay and Nung people in the northeast, who provided a secure base for his guerrilla forces.

Following Vietnam’s independence in 1954, the northern government sought to win the loyalty of ethnic minorities by creating two autonomous regions, allowing limited self-rule within a “unified multinational state.”

The Central Highlands: Struggles for Autonomy

The Central Highlands witnessed similar divisions during the anti-French resistance. However, many ethnic groups remained opposed to both the French and the Vietnamese, striving to maintain their independence.

Tensions escalated after 1954, when President Ngô Đình Diệm relocated ethnic Viet settlers to the highlands, disregarding indigenous land rights. This sparked significant opposition among groups like the Bahnar, Jarai, and E De. Their resistance coalesced into the United Front for the Liberation of Oppressed Races (FULRO), which sought greater autonomy, including:

  • Representation in the National Assembly.
  • Local self-governance.
  • Education in native languages.

Although FULRO initially gained traction, internal divisions weakened the movement as some members joined the Viet Cong. By 1975, FULRO and anti-communist factions, primarily composed of E De rebels, continued their struggle from bases in Cambodia. Those who survived the Khmer Rouge regime later fled to Thailand, with many eventually resettling in the United States.

Post-Reunification Challenges

After 1975, promises of minority autonomy went unfulfilled. The North Vietnamese government revoked earlier self-governance measures, placing many leaders of anti-communist movements in re-education camps. Policies of forced assimilation were implemented, including:

  • Conducting all education in Vietnamese.
  • Suppressing traditional customs and cultural practices.
  • Relocating minority communities into permanent settlements.

Simultaneously, the government established New Economic Zones, commandeering fertile land in the Central Highlands and along the Chinese border to resettle overpopulated lowland communities.

The Doi Moi Era and Policy Reforms

The Doi Moi reforms of the early 1990s marked a turning point for Vietnam’s ethnic minorities. A central office was established to oversee minority affairs, and new policies sought to integrate minorities while preserving their cultural identity. Key initiatives included:

  • Official recognition of minority languages, which are now taught in schools and featured in television broadcasts.
  • Scholarships to enable minority students to access higher education.
  • Improved healthcare and income-generating programs, such as promoting cash crops (timber, fruit) as alternatives to illegal activities like opium cultivation.

In 2001, Nông Đức Mạnh, an ethnic Tay, became Vietnam’s first minority General Secretary of the Communist Party, signaling greater minority representation in governance.

Preserving Cultural Diversity Amid Modernization

Efforts to protect Vietnam’s cultural diversity have gained momentum, partly driven by the growing appeal of ethnic heritage in tourism. However, modernization and land development are rapidly eroding traditional lifestyles, and poverty remains a pressing issue.

Although minorities make up just 14% of Vietnam’s population, they account for nearly one-third of those living below the poverty line. Balancing cultural preservation, economic development, and minority rights remains a significant challenge for Vietnam’s future.

By embracing this rich cultural heritage and addressing inequality, Vietnam can strengthen its unity while celebrating the diversity that defines its national identity.