It is also known by other names like Xa, Coong, Mang Nha, Xa Xeng and Xam Khong. With a population of just 1,600, the Cong are one of the smallest ethnic minorities in Vietnam. They live in stilt houses in the high reaches of the Da River close to the borders with China and Laos.

Young, unmarried adults often live in communal houses rather than home. Once married, men become the main bread winners and also make most decisions concerning family affairs.

There are a number of clan names-Lo, Ly, Chao, Chang, Hu and Lung. Each clan worships its own ancestors. In the old days the Cong people only married members of the same clan. Sons of younger sisters could marry daughters of older sisters but sons of older sisters were not allowed to marry daughters of younger sisters.

But since the 1970s the Cong have married members of other ethnic minorities such as Ha Nhi, Si La and Thai.

Monogamy is practiced. In the past, if the husband or the wife committed adultery, the jilted spouse would commit suicide to save their honour.

The engagement ceremony known as Hu men ti xe is organized in the evening on an auspicious day, carefully selected by a witch doctor. Gifts for the ceremony include salt, tea, hemp threads and rice or maize liquor.

After representatives of the man’s family to the women’s family, the two families will discuss when the man has to move to his newly acquired inlaws home and stay there usually from 4-12 years.

Once everyone has come to agreement, the man will pack a bag with a blanket, a pillow and a knife and move. The bride-to-be will make her hair into a bun on top of her head to signify that she is now spoken for. During this initial period the groom is not allowed to sit on a chair or wear sandals or shoes and he will be on his best behaviour in his new home.

His parents will soon visit to discuss the wedding and dowry with the bride’s family. On the wedding day the groom’s family will once again visit. The two families will sing ceremonial songs at the foot of the staircase before entering the house.

Trays of food will be placed inside. Everyone will eat, drink, chat and sing.

The bride’s parents will present her with a dowry including blankets, clothes, knives, hoes, a pig and a hen. When the procession is about to leave the house, the bridegroom’s aunt must enter the bride’s room to carry the bride out on her back. In case the bride is from the same village, the aunt must carry her the whole way to the groom’s house. If the bride is from a different village, the aunt doesn’t have to carry her all the way.

The Cong traditionally douse the groom’s family with ash mixed with water, so often on the wedding day, people wear old clothes. After coming to the bridegroom’s house, the couple kneels and prays by the family altar and then greets the groom’s relatives. A party ensues and may only end after three days.

Cong women often abstain from many things before they give birth so that they will have an easy delivery and their babies will be healthy. The mother traditionally gives birth while sitting next to a fire place in her house. The placenta is put into a bamboo tube and then buried carefully under the floor; otherwise the baby will fell itchy.

The baby’s name is chosen by the paternal grandfather. If the baby cries a lot or suffers from a long illness, its name will be changed.

When a person dies, the screens and altar in the house must be removed. The deceased is placed in a trunk of a tree. The tomb’s location is chosen by throwing an egg. Where the egg lands is where the tomb will be.

The dead are not buried on the day of the monkey or the tiger for fear  that the monkey will restore itself to life or the dead will turn into a tiger, which will return to the village and attack the villagers.

The Cong also do not bury the dead on his or her birthday for fear of reincarnation or on the other family member’s birthday for fear that they will follow the dead to hell.

A tomb is built to house the dead. After the burial, the grave diggers must perform a ritual to ensure their souls return home with them. Each of them will place a small branch into fire in front of the tomb and then stamp out the fire. This helps expel any bad spirits that may be lingering around.

The next morning, each family in the village assigns one member to visit the tomb. They will bring boiled rice, an egg and some salt and call out to the deceased. They will poke a tomb with a rod white calling out the names of each family member to ensure everyone’s soul is back home.

Some 12 days after burial, a new house altar is made. When a parent dies, sons will have to share their heads until a new crop of rice begins.

Before completing the sowing of rice, the farmer has to sleep on the field and perform a ceremony to pray to the field’s ghosts and ask for a bumper crop.

When the rice is ripe, nearly all of it is reaped and only a small part of rice is kept on the field. After threshing and stockpiling this rice, the famer will pray and call for the rice field’s soul to come back home.