We are Khmer Krom, one of the biggest ethnic groups in the south of Viet Nam. We live by farming – mostly rice – and fishing on the Mekong River. Life

We are Khmer Krom, one of the biggest ethnic groups in the south of Viet Nam. We live by farming – mostly rice – and fishing on the Mekong River. Life is sometimes hard as our work depends heavily on the weather. When it is not harvest time, the men of the village go fishing from early morning and don’t return until late afternoon. By the time they return, most of the village women will be waiting for them on the river bank. They wait to buy the fish, which they will later sell at the local market or bring to the nearby town for a higher price. We children will be there too. We love running around the beach and waiting for the boats to come in.
Our most important festival of the year is the Chol Chnam Thmay, which celebrates the New Year. It falls mid-April. Every family tries to prepare well for the festive activities. The community also visits and helps poor families so that everybody has a happy New Year.
1. Where do the Khmer Krom live?
2. Why is life hard for the Khmer?
3. When do the women and children of the village go to the river bank?
4. What do the women do with the fish they buy from the fishermen?
5.What is Chol Chnam Thmay?
6. Who are helped by the community at this festival?Why?