Early marriage of the Co-tu people in Tay Giang district, Quang Nam province, Vietnam

Abstract

In Vietnam, early marriage remains a significant issue, particularly among ethnic minorities. In this article, the author examines the current status of early marriage within the Co-tu community. This ethnic group is ranked 26^th in the List of Ethnic Groups in Vietnam. The ethnic group’s distribution area includes the mountainous regions of Quang Nam province, Danang city, and Thua Thien Hue province. This article focuses on Dong Giang district, where the Co Tu population accounts for over 93.64% of the district’s population. The ethnic group’s main livelihood is slash-and-burn cultivation and other secondary activities such as hunting, gathering, afforestation, services, handicrafts, etc. The culture of the ethnic group still preserves many traditional cultural elements such as costumes, cuisine, marriage, family, funerals, weddings or festivals, etc. The study aims to explore the perceptions of insiders and related individuals regarding the relationship between love and marriage, identifying the causes leading to early marriage, and providing an overall view of the life of Co-tu couples. Life after marriage is perceived by insiders as “a game of fortune”. The traditional sequence of loving, marrying, and having children becomes sensitive and complex when involving couples under 18. The ethnographic fieldwork was conducted during four trips from early 2017 to mid-2020. Qualitative methods were primarily employed to gather data on this sensitive topic, utilising three specific tools: unstructured in-depth interviews, semi-structured interviews, and group discussions.