Introduction / History

The San Diu of Vietnam speak a Chinese Guandong dialect that belongs to the Sino Tibetan language. They are supposed to have come from Guandong in China to Vietnam about three or four hundred years ago. They live mainly in the Quang Ninh Province.

The San Diu grow rice and maize and they cultivate preferably in fields that are dry. They mostly eat rice. They live in cottages in villages. Every village has an elected leader to look after them.

With marriages, parental approval is needed with the San Diu. They have rituals for both marriages and funerals. When the San Diu build a house, others of their group come and help. The owner of a house invites an elder to bring fire, seeds and a lime pot to the home.

The San Diu have festivals that they celebrate. They worship ancestors, the shaman and the Kitchen god. An incense bowl is used to worship the dead. They also worship earth spirits.

The San Diu use the lunar calendar. They like singing a lot. There is an opportunity for missionaries who like singing to maybe make friends with them.

Prayer Points

* Pray that the leaders of the San Diu will come to salvation and lead others among them to Jesus Christ.
* Pray that gospel materials will lead them to salvation too.

References

http://vietnam-culture.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Sandiu%20ethnic%20group