"Blood Relatives" or Uneasy Neighbors? Kinh Migrant and Ethnic Minority Interactions in the Trường Sơn Mountains

Abstract

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Vietnam was largely divided between lowland-dwelling Vietnamese [Kinh] and a variety of ethnic groups living in the highlands. Yet by the close of the century, these ethnic minorities were far outnumbered by Kinh in most upland areas, thanks to extensive migration programs. This article looks at Kinh migrant and ethnic minority relations in the Annamite [Trường Sơn] uplands, with a focus on social, cultural, environmental, and economic interactions between migrants and local indigenous peoples.