Cultural diversity of Chut Ethnic minority in Vietnam in front of the threats of the fades

Abstract

Chut is official name of special ethnic community in Viet Nam, who consists of 5 local groups: May,
Sach, Ruc, A Rem and Ma Lieng in the end of 1973 year. They are li ving in the western border of central provinces Quang Binh and Ha Tinh of Viet Nam. These minorities groups left their wild life in the high mountains very late in comparison with the other ethnic groups in Viet Nam. In the years 60 of Century XX, the Chut was considered as the secluded group and in that time they have brought to return to concentrated village. Previously, due to war, disease and extremly difficult economical life, the population of ethnic minority Chut have declined much. So the internatio nal and Vietnamese scholars had worry about their danger of extinction. Nowadays, ethnic Chut is belonging to 16 smallest ethnic groups in Viet Nam and standing in 42 orders in the List of 54 Vietnamese ethnic minorities. The most important of Chut minorit y is that, in their language still preserved lots of elements of proto Viet Muong as the ancient Vietnamese language. So Vietnamese scholars call “Chut minority as National live museum in Viet Nam” and these ethnic groups have a huge significance for inter national and Vietnamese scholars to study the history of Vietnamese Nation and language, also. Vietnamese Government and the whole community are trying to support Chut ethnic minority in development and preservation their original culture. But nowadays, in the process of integration with other ethnic groups living in central provinces of Vietnam, while the Chut population is developing sustainable, but the ancient features of Chut's traditional culture are standing in front of the risk of fades. Our researc h paper will indicate the current situation of cultural diversity of Chut ethnic minority and the challenges in their cultural preservation.