The Muong and Thai in Mai Chau
The muong are among the oldest inhabitants of Vietnam ; It may even be earlier than the viets . The relatively recent Thai people began to migrate from the south of Chinas more than 2,000 years ago. It is possible, however, that the ancestors of the white thai living in Moc Chau arrived much less time ago from China or Laos .
The muong and white thai languages are the most spoken, but mixed marriages are frequent and both cultures have many reciprocal influences. Both villages, for example, live in wooden houses built on tall, thick pillars, with flexible floors of bamboo poles, wooden shutters and roofs overhanging straw or tiles.