People and History

The Khmer Krom People

The Khmer Krom people are the inhabitants of the South Eastern parts of Cambodia and Vietnam, where they are an ethnic minority, in the area that makes up the delta of the Mekong River. There are no less than eight million Khmer Krom people around the world; most of them living in different parts of Cambodia, while a little over million are found in Vietnam. The Khmer Krom people speak the Khmer language, which is also the national language of Cambodia.

The Khmer Krom people are mostly Buddhists and those living in Cambodia practice Theravada Buddhism, the oldest surviving school of Buddhism in the world. The Vietnamese Khmer Krom practice Mahayana Buddhism and a small portion of the community also practice Islam and Christianity. Their religious identity separates them from the rest of the people of the Indochina Region.

The Khmer Krom people trace their origins even before the Khmer Empire, and have thought to inhabit their native region since the first century AD. The Khmer Empire lasted from the 9th century AD to the 15th century, and was the most powerful empire in South East Asia during its peak period during the 12th century, particularly when the Angkor Wat was built.

Later, in the 17th century, the Khmer Krom people, who now currently live in Vietnam, were separated from the rest of their community in Cambodia, as Vietnamese settlers occupied the Mekong River Delta region. In fact, the modern day Vietnamese capital of Ho Chi Minh City, was known as Prey Nokor at the time of the Khmer Krom occupation, and was an important port city to the community.

After the French colonization of the region in 1863, the Mekong River delta was included in Vietnam after the independence of Vietnam from the French occupation. Cambodia protested on this step but to no avail, and the division of the Khmer Krom people led to tensions between Cambodia, which gained independence in 1954, and Vietnam, which further paved the way to violent conflicts between the states in the 1970s.

The Khmer Krom people have a rich cultural heritage which could be truly explored by visiting the heart of their homeland, the Mekong River Delta in Cambodia. This is where the cultural values of the Khmer Krom flourished and where you can find most of the cultural attractions that are representative of the people. Attractions like the Khleang Pagoda in Soc Trang, and other sites such as Long An, and Ving Long in the Mekong River Delta offer a good insight into their culture.

The Khmer Krom people also follow their distinct Lunar calendar, based on the Buddhist calendar, the practice of which is thought to have been originated from the Angkor period of the Khmer Empire. The Khmer zodiac however, seems to be an inspiration of the Chinese zodiac, and the local names of animals are associated with years, as is the case in the latter. The Khmer New Year is celebrated mostly on April 13, and sometimes on April 14.

The Khmer Krom people are represented by the Khmer-Kampuchea Krom Federation, which claim to be the only legitimate representative organization of the community and is a member of the Unrepresented Nations and People Organization. Although the organization maintains a non-political stance, but it primarily works to propagate awareness for the rights of the Khmer Krom community and to attract the attention of the world to the Human Rights violations they are facing in Vietnam.

Add comment (5)

Discuss this article

You need to log in or register to participate in this discussion.

Posts in discussion

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 14:54 by sleepyhead #3688

Edit: Post on this topic by mistake.

Posted: 19 May 2011 09:18 by thahappycamper #3349

Us Khmer people as a whole (Krom, Leur, Central, or Surin) have had it rough. So I don't think it should matter what region we came from. We should really just learn to love each other more, no matter what our social or economic differences are. I feel like we are the "American Indians" of S.E. Asia and that nobody wants nothing from us except our valuable land.

Posted: 18 May 2011 12:19 by sleepyhead #3325

KhmerBlazzer, nice to see you around again and I didn't know that you were Khmer Krom. Do you have the accent too? Just like Daze pointed out, it sucks to face discrimination on both end of the two countries.

Posted: 18 May 2011 05:11 by Daze #3323

Nowadays, its hard to tell khmer krom people apart from youn. Possibly because of their accent. Khmer krom are very patriotic and love their homeland. Sucks to see that not only they face discrimination in Vietnam but also in srok khmai.

Posted: 15 May 2011 10:08 by tanlong #3285

KhmerBlazzer I find it sad because when Khmer Krom people stay in Vietnam they call them Khmer and treat them differently. When they go to Cambodia regular Khmers call they Youn. Most feel that they do not fit in. Many Khmer Krom people who are well educated in Khmer culture such as religion, language, ect are persecuted and have no choice but to leave to Cambodia or face imprisonment or death. It has gotten alot better in Vietnam as they started airing Khmer Krom stuff on tv for about an hour. Even if there are political reasons behind it, its still a start for more civil rights for our fellow Khmer people down there. Since that visit I have noticed that there are alot of Khmer Krom people in my area. Most look and speak Viet because of the forced assimilation in Vietnam but when they start speaking Khmer you can't tell the difference.

Posted: 15 May 2011 02:36 by KhmerBlazzer #3282

Thanks for posting this up Admin, it means allot to me cause im Khmer Krom. Over there in South Vietnam Khmer people have no say in what they can do. Especially, what tanlong said about the village is true. There are allot of nice Khmer people there. However, yorn people are trying to separate Khmer people. Forcing them to move elsewhere to different location to spread out the Khmer Krom population. They do that so the Khmer Krom society can die out and marry yorn people. Then, they can assimilate with their Vietnamese society. There's allot of things that most people don't know and if Khmer Krom people over there say anything. They get locked up or something happen to their family. I know about this cause I was in the Khmer Krom Youth and I went to the United Nation to talk about those stuff. Admin, this was a great topic to discuss about so thank you. Also, yes Hero their are a few Khmer Krom people living in the states not allot, but a few. Also, on a interesting note Khmer Krom people they refer them-self as Khmer not yorn haha. Well later guys.

Posted: 14 May 2011 23:59 by tanlong #3281

On my third visit to Cambodia I visited Vietnam. Went to the city of Soc Trang which is Kat Kleng in Khmer. It is pretty much like Cambodia especially when you go to a Khmer Krom village. From people to temples they are just like regular Khmers with a bit of Vietnamese accent. It is one thing reading about it but when you are actually there it felt like I was still in Cambodia.

Posted: 10 Apr 2011 04:00 by thahappycamper #2842

I lived with khmer krom people for almost 2 years at a temple. They are really nice people.

Posted: 07 Apr 2011 22:13 by Hero #2734

Are there a lot of Khmer Krom people living in the States?

Lowell - The Heart of Ethnic Cambodia

From being an important fishing center for Americans to being the largest and most culturally active Cambodian community on the east coast, the history of Lowell is as variant and colorful as the city is today.

It was the power and promise of the Merrimack River that led to the settlement near the Pawtucket Falls by natives, and to the formation of a new city in the 19th century. The vision of a community based on the production of textiles gave rise to the construction of a massive complex of mills, and by the 1840s, Lowell had the distinction of being the second largest city in New England and the industrial center of America. These accomplishments provided the basis for the city’s cultural and ethnic diversity, attracting immigrants from central and southern Europe initially, mostly young women farmers, who came to be known as the “mill girls.” Along came the Yankees and Irishmen, who dug Lowell’s first power canal, the Merrimack Canal. But soon due to competition, the salaries were lowered shattering their dreams of fortunes and they left, to be soon replaced by new immigrants.

It was in the 1980s that immigrants from Southeast Asia fled to the city; including Cambodians who came in large numbers as refugees, after the Khmer Rouge rule. Now, Lowell holds the second largest concentration of Cambodians in the country of Uncle Sam, with around 35,000 Cambodians living in the city. They initially settled in the “Acres” and “Highlands.” There soon came into existence businesses made just for Cambodians. Today, there are more than 100 Cambodian businesses in Lowell, with the most popular commercial areas being the “Pailin Plaza,” which hosts a restaurant, shops and a supermarket. Cambodians even built their own pagodas in Lowell.

A market to note is the Phnom Penh Market, which is one of the largest Asian markets in Lowell. This offers the visitor a Cambodian shopping experience very different from that of a supermarket. Everything from decorative items to vegetables and fruits, from kitchen appliances to outdoor equipment is available here. How about a Cambodian newspaper?

The Cambodians imported the famous cultural events, traditions and arts of their motherland. They are a norm today and attract thousands of tourists throughout the year. The traditional South Asian Water Festival in Lowell is organized on the 3rd of August every year on the Merrimack River. This festival is hugely popular and is the ultimate must-see event for tourists visiting Lowell, with more than 60,000 people from around the world celebrating water. Crafts, foods, performances, and boat races with drummers are the highlight of this festival. The award-winning “Angkor Dance Troop” performs the classical Khmer Ballet and has earned a great reputation all over the continent.

For Cambodians a temple is as important as the air they breathe and the food they eat, if not more. The first Buddhist temple was built in the 1980s with a colorful Buddha statue and it was presided over by Monks coming to Lowell. The strong religious flavor of Cambodia can be witnessed to this day in the large new Trairatanaran Temple, which is located in the North Chelmsford.

If the Cambodian festivals, cultural events and temples leave an indelible imprint and tickle the senses, the food in Lowell impacts in such away that it leaves people craving for more. The Theptida Khmer and Red Rose are just two of the many restaurants that offer authentic Khmer cuisine; be it grilled Lok Lak, Sngou Chruok Trey or the Mee Ka-tang Rice Noodles, and a fine dining experience without having to empty the pockets. A trip to the Southeast Asian Restaurant is a must, as it is the first such restaurant of its kind to be opened in Lowell in 1985 and their menu is diverse, concentrating on Cambodia, Thai and Chinese cuisines. The aromas wafting through their kitchens are sure to drag you in.

The famous Clemente Park on Middlesex Street, a major tourist attraction, proves that parks are not only for children. Built in the 1970s, this park is a social hub for Cambodians, and a wonderful place to taste great home-made Cambodian eats, such as papaya and mango salad, teriyaki, beefsteak and a host of other foods. There is also a stone chess table for chess lovers and it is frequented by Cambodians of all age-groups.

An event that cannot be missed falls on the last weekend in July of every year; when the downtown streets in Lowell are shut down to celebrate the cultural diversity with guests from around the world. A smorgasbord of music, dance, art, ethnic food and other activities make this festival exciting, with thousands of people out on the streets. Music enthusiasts can even enjoy the Lowell Folk Festival, which is more of a jazz, country, ska and mariachi music festival held on warn July nights.

Lowell is a beautiful place to be and a visit to the Museum can help tourists understand the immigrant’s path of struggle leading to success. If textiles tickle your fancy, the American Textile History Museum and the New England Quilt Museum offer a glimpse into the evolution of art, and not to forget the Revolving Museum that holds colorful reminders of the 1960s, and is a major attraction of downtown. If not, then a two-hour tour of the city on a boat, trolley or by foot conducted by the Lowell National Historical Park, can give a peek into the extremely enchanting charm of this beautiful city.

With all these flavors of Cambodia in Lowell, a visit to this city gives an in-depth understanding of the centuries-old Cambodian culture, leaving visitors mesmerized.