travel-The Cham villages of An Giang

A Cham woman sells traditional clothes in her village in the Mekong Delta
Visit a Cham village in the Mekong Delta to learn about a rare culture.

The Mekong Delta province of An Giang is home to some of the largest ethnic Cham communities in Vietnam.

Some 13,000 Cham live in 2,100 households on Chau Giang Islet across the Hau River from the town of Chau Doc.

There are seven other major Cham villages in An Giang, each known by a Cham and Vietnamese name.

For example Chau Giang, Da Phuoc and Chau Phong villages are also known by their Cham names as Koh Taboong, Mat Chru and Koh Kaboak, respectively.

In Cham culture, men must cut their hair short and in line with Muslim custom they wear a black or white turban, depending on their age, during certain community activities. Women must cover their heads in public and they usually wear a sarong.

Cham people live in stilt houses. The homes, usually roofed with palm leaves or tiles, have a unique and traditional design. Each house usually has four rooms and a separate kitchen. The two front rooms are for receiving male guests while the two rear rooms are used for sleeping and receiving female guests. Between each room is a partition with a door and an intricately-embroidered curtain.

Guests to a Cham house are invited to sit on a mat and are served tea and cakes.

Outsiders often criticize the old Cham culture in which women were not allowed to go out and communicate with strangers, especially men. But nowadays women go to school, sell or buy goods at markets and interact with outsiders.

At most Cham villages, you can buy scarves, sarongs and clothes made by Cham women. You can see them weave brocade and learn some basic weaving techniques. In addition, you can try delicious Cham delicacies.

Reported by Diem Thu