Who Are the Bru?
The Bru (Vân Kiều) are an Austro-Asiatic ethnic group inhabiting the mountainous border region between Vietnam and Laos, numbering approximately 80,000-100,000 in Vietnam and similar populations in Laos. They speak Bru, a Mon-Khmer language of the Katuic branch. In Vietnam, the Bru inhabit Quang Tri and Quang Binh provinces along the Laos border. Their territory straddles the Annamite mountain range that divides Vietnam from Laos. The Bru practice swidden agriculture and have traditionally lived in relative isolation in their highland environment. Their cross-border distribution creates ethnic ties across national boundaries.
DMZ and War
The Bru territory along the 17th parallel became one of the Vietnam War's most heavily fought zones. The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that divided North and South Vietnam cut through their homeland. The Ho Chi Minh Trail ran through Bru areas, making them strategically vital. Massive bombing campaigns devastated their communities; the Khe Sanh combat base was surrounded by Bru villages. Unexploded ordnance still litters the region. Many Bru were displaced, their villages destroyed. The war's impact on the Bru was catastrophic, disrupting traditional life and causing lasting trauma. Post-war mine clearance and development have been slow in this remote region.
Cross-Border Identity
The Bru population spans the Vietnam-Laos border, with related communities on both sides. In Laos, they are often classified with the Katu or as part of broader "Lao Theung" (upland Lao) categories. This cross-border distribution creates ethnic ties that transcend national boundaries. Family connections span the border, and cultural practices are shared. However, different national policies have shaped experiences on each side. Vietnamese Bru have faced greater integration pressure, while Lao Bru experienced different development trajectories. The arbitrary nature of colonial-era borders, which divided ethnic groups without regard for their distribution, is evident in the Bru case.
Contemporary Bru
Modern Bru in Vietnam face development pressures and cultural change. Government programs have promoted sedentary agriculture and resettlement from dispersed villages. Roads have reduced isolation but brought integration challenges. Young Bru learn Vietnamese in school, while Bru language instruction is limited. Traditional practices persist, with animist beliefs and ceremonies continuing alongside adopted elements. Unexploded ordnance still claims victims and limits agricultural land. Poverty rates remain high in remote Bru communities. The region's historical significance draws some tourism related to Vietnam War heritage. How the Bru recover from wartime devastation while maintaining cultural connections across borders shapes their mountain community's future.
References
- Miller, C. (1964). "The Bru of South Vietnam"
- Hickey, G. C. (1982). Free in the Forest
- Prados, J. (1999). The Blood Road: The Ho Chi Minh Trail and the Vietnam War