The Katuic Ethnography Project

Phase I: 2003-2006

The Katuic Ethnography Project (Phase I) was a joint research project between Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and the Department of Social Anthropology of Göteborg University (Sweden). Funded by Sida, and directed by professor Kaj Arhem (GU) in close co-operation with Dr Luu Hung of VME, it took place between 2003 and 2006. Except for Dr Luu Hung and Kaj Arhem, the project involved several researchers and interpreters from VME and a research assistant and videographer from Göteborg (see Participants).

The project aimed at understanding various aspects of the social and cultural life of the previously only scantily researched Katuic indigenous groups of Vietnam, including the Katu, the Ta Oi and Bru Van Kieu ethnic groups.

A Phase II of the project is planned to commence in 2008. Information about this second phase is forthcoming. In the next phase Katuic groups in Laos will be included. The next phase will also more closely examine socio-cultural changes due to modernisation and development efforts in the two countries.