Mảng people


The Mảng are an ethnic group living primarily in Vietnam and China.
In Vietnam, they are one of Vietnams' 54 officially recognized ethnic groups. They mainly reside in Hua Bum and Nậm Ban communes of Nậm Nhùn district of Lai Châu province. The Mảng population according to the 2009 Population and Housing Census was about 3,700 people.
There are also about 500 Mảng living in the Yunnan province of southern China, where they are officially termed an undistinguished nationality.
The Mảng language is part of the Pakanic branch of the Austroasiatic language family.

Culture

The Mảng practiced chin-tattooing for women who reach puberty. In the past, they were nicknamed "Yellow Leaf People" due to their slash and burn nomadic lifestyle. They used forest leaves to build temporary houses. When the leaves turned yellow, they would move to another place.