On the 6th day of the six lunar month, people in Chang Lo village, Yen Minh district, gather by the forest where there is a huge tree to worship the Forest God. They consider this ceremony a spiritual, cultural and traditional activity of their people.
Pu Peo people settled down in Yen Minh district very early, they live together in communes of Sung Chang and Phu Lung. Although living in the highlands, they do not live on the high mountains like the Mong ethnic people, they select small areas near the forest edge set up villages. Pu Peo people both cultivate rice and take advantage of forests to live; they often do intensive crops with many different plants, such as maize, rice, squash - gourd, legumes and other vegetables. After the harvest, some food is dried and stored to eat gradually, some is used for sowing in the next season, and the rest is for sale or exchange in neighbourhoods. In addition to cultivation, Pu Peo families also develop animal husbandry for draught power and meat in Tet and holidays of the family or the village.
Pu Peo ethnic population is only about 500. Currently, in addition to Sung Chang and Phu Lung in Yen Minh district, Pu Peo people also live in Pho La, Dong Van district. With only 15 households and 60 people in Chang Lo village, Sung Chang commune, Yen Minh district, equal to 10 percent of population of the commune, Pu Peo people still retain traditional the unique cultural identity of their people.
Material culture is expressed very clearly, firstly in residential architecture. The houses here are not like those of the Mong ethnic people. They are two-storey houses, the first storey is designed with two compartments in the middle as a lobby for all members to gather here. The inside compartment is sitting room. The two protruding compartments are built at two sides to balance the house, used as bedrooms for owners and son. The second storey is used for their guest to stay overnight or storing food for the next crop. On the second storey, they take the light by a window opening in summer and closing in winter. Therefore, Pu Peo traditional house (made of clay) is very cool in summer and warm in winter. The roof is covered with double tiles, handmade. Trough tiles are bow-shaped, about 1/4 circle. Covering with tile must be so careful for rain and water not to flow into the house. In the middle of every roof, there is always something built for aesthetics, also considered the soul of the house.
The lobby of the house is living place for everyone, in order to not only avoid sun and rain, but also get sunlight for the house. Pu Peo women are very interested in sewing work. After harvest, Pu Peo women often spend time to sew. Their costumes are not for sale, they have to make their own costumes that fit them. Thus, Pu Peo women, from the elderly to the young, know how to sew. Nowadays, the basic identities of Pu Peo costume are mainly seen in women’s costumes, Pu Peo men’s traditional costumes are not known any more. Pu Peo women wear long black skirts with wide fringe but not folded. The body of skirts is not decorated; the fringe is decorated by colourful pieces of cloths with geometric patterns. On the outer shirt, the chest is cut with no collar and button. When wearing, they tie two laps together by the ties from the veil. The fringes and veils are decorated with some pieces of cloth with patterns. The line from collar to underarm is decorated by three strings of cloth to make veils. The sleeves are veiled by 3 colourful cloths. Pu Peo young women often roll the hair around their heads, they keep the hair by a wooden comb, wraps the hair by a dark purple towel and a square colourful patterned towel fold outside. Besides the costume, Pu Peo people also wear silver jewellery, especially Pu Peo women. On special days or weddings, they wear bracelets or necklaces which are decorated very meticulously.
Besides material cultural, spiritual culture of Pu Peo people is expressed quite uniquely in folk songs, and worship of ancestors and gods. Pu Peo people attach much importance to worship, they assume that each god manages a field, such as god of fire; god of water; god of fertility; god of regeneration, and god of forest. Due to their faith in gods, they hold ceremonies to worship these gods at different time. The God of Forest is regarded the most important god in their lives.
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