22 Social Sciences Information Review, Vol.13, No.2, June, 2019 Marriage and family issues in fi ve ethnic minorities with very small populations in Vietnam today Nguyen Thi Tam PhD., Institute of Anthropology, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences; Email:
[email protected] Bui Thi Bich Lan, Nguyen Thi Hong Kinh Bac University Received January 1, 2019; published June 25, 2019 Abstract: Based on a literature review and fi eld research, the paper clarifi es the existing problems and the social challenges of the fi ve sparsely-populated ethnic minorities (O-du, Brau, Ro-mam, Pu Peo and Si La) in Vietnam today, with a focus on marriage and family aspects. Keywords: Ethnic Minorities, Social Issues, Marriage, Family Relationship, O-du, Brau, Ro- mam, Pu Peo, Si La Introduction groups with a population less than 1,000 in Ethnic diversity is a pride, contributing to particular for years, it’s not comprehensive enriching the national cultural identity of to some extent. On the other hand, their low Vietnam, diversifying the world cultural awareness of preserving and promoting picture, but also posing great responsibilities cultural identity inevitably causes cultural to the governing agencies, researchers and loss or distortion. ethnic minorities themselves. The 2009 Literature review coupled with fi eldwork1, Vietnam Population and Housing Census the paper overviews the issues related to show that 53 ethnic minorities account for marriage and family relations of these 14.3% of the national population (Central fi ve ethnic groups today, thereby partly Steering Committee for Population and creating a scientifi c basis for their suitable Housing Census, 2010).