Tribal & Minority Groups Trained by U.S. Special Forces in Vietnam
Group: Bahnar
Ethnology: Mon-Khmer Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 80-200 CTZ: II CTZ General Location: Central Highlands Jungle Fighting Rating: Effective Group: Bru
Ethnology: Mon-Khmer Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 40-50 CTZ: I CTZ Gen. Location: Western Quang/Thuan Thien Jungle Fighting Rating: Effective Group: Cao Dai
Ethnology: Politico-religious sect Estimated Population (thousands): 2000 CTZ: II & IV CTZ General Location: Mekong Delta/Tay Ninh Jungle Fighting Rating: Effective Group: Cham
Ethnology: Malayo-Polynesian Estimated Population (thousands): 45 CTZ: III & IV CTZ General Location: Chau Phu/Tay Ninh Jungle Fighting Rating: Capable Group: Chinese
Ethnology: Mongoloid Estimated Population (thousands): 1,200 CTZ: III & IV CTZ General Location: Cholon, along the coast, etc. Jungle Fighting Rating: Effective Group: Cua
Ethnology: Mon-Khmer Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 15-20 CTZ: I CTZ General Location: Quang Nam/Quang Tin Jungle Fighting Rating: Capable Group: Halang
Ethnology: Mon-Khmer Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 30 CTZ: II CTZ Gen. Loc.: Western Kontum/Cambodia/Laos Jungle Fighting Rating: Capable Group: Hre
Ethnology: Mon-Khmer Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 90- 120 CTZ: I & II CTZ General Location: Binh Dinh/Quang Ngai Jungle Fighting Rating: Superb Group: Hoa Hoa
Ethnology: Hinayana Buddhist sect Estimated Population (thousands): 50 CTZ: IV CTZ General Location: Western Mekong Delta Jungle Fighting Rating: Effective |
Group: Hroi
Ethnology: Mon-Khmer Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 10 CTZ: II CTZ Gen. Location: Phu Yen/Phu Bon/lower Binh Dinh Jungle Fighting Rating: Capable Group: Jarai
Ethnology: Malayo-Polynesian Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 150 CTZ: II CTZ General Location: Central Highlands Jungle Fighting Rating: Effective Group: Jeh
Ethnology: Mon-Khmer Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 15 CTZ: I & II CTZ General Location: Western Laotian border Jungle Fighting Rating: Capable Group: Katu
Ethnology: Mon-Khmer Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 25 CTZ: I CTZ General Location: Northern plateau & mountains Jungle Fighting Rating: Effective Group: Khmer *
Ethnology: Cambodian Estimated Population (thousands): 400-600 CTZ: III & IV CTZ Gen. Location: Mekong Delta/Cambodian border Jungle Fighting Rating: Effective Group: Koho
Ethnology: Mon-Khmer Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 90 CTZ: II & III CTZ Gen. Location: Mountains from Saigon to Da Lat Jungle Fighting Rating: Capable Group: Ma
Ethnology: Mon-Khmer Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 22 CTZ: II & III CTZ General Location: Da Dung river region Jungle Fighting Rating: Capable Group: Meo
Ethnology: Mongoloid/Caucasoid Estimated Population (thousands): 2,600-8,000 CTZ: General Location: Throughout Laos, mountains of Vietnam/China Jungle Fighting Rating: Effective |
Group: M'nong
Ethnology: Mon-Khmer Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 15-40 CTZ: II CTZ General Location: South & west of Ban Me Tuot Jungle Fighting Rating: Effective Group: Muong
Ethnology: Mon-Khmer Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 10 CTZ: II CTZ General Location: Pleiku/Ban Me Thuot Jungle Fighting Rating: Capable Group: Nung
Ethnology: Mongoloid Thai/Chinese Estimated Population (thousands): 15 ** CTZ: II CTZ Gen. Loc.: N. Vietnam, west S. Vietnam, China Jungle Fighting Rating: Superb Group: Raglai
Ethnology: Maylo-Polynesian Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 40 CTZ: II CTZ Gen. Location: West of Nha Trang & Phan Rang Jungle Fighting Rating: Capable Group: Rengao
Ethnology: Mon-Khmer Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 10 CTZ: II CTZ General Location: Kontum Jungle Fighting Rating: Superb Group: Rhade
Ethnology: Malayo-Polynesian Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 120 CTZ: II CTZ General Location: Darlac Plateau Jungle Fighting Rating: Superb Group: Sedang
Ethnology: Mon-Khmer Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 40-80 CTZ: II CTZ General Location: Kontum Jungle Fighting Rating: Superb Group: Stieng
Ethnology: Mon-Khmer Montagnard Estimated Population (thousands): 60 CTZ: III CTZ General Location: Phuoc Long/Binh Long Jungle Fighting Rating: Effective |
Ethnology: The Mon-Khmer stock probably originated in the upper Mekong River valleys in Yunnan Province of south China.
Jungle Fighting Rating: Raiding, scout, ambush, camp defense. The rating is general, of course. Most listed entities were hostile to the South Vietnamese government, but loyal to U.S. Army Special Forces commanders. Those indicated as effective could readily become transformed into excellent strike forces with proper training and leadership. Superb tribes saw extended offensive action under U.S. Army Special Forces control, while the Nungs were used for the most elite assignments.
* Includes the Khmer Kampuchea Kron (KKK) and the Khmer Serei (Free Cambodia), both underground Cambodian political factions.
** South Vietnam only. There were about 300,000 Nungs in North Vietnam as well.
Jungle Fighting Rating: Raiding, scout, ambush, camp defense. The rating is general, of course. Most listed entities were hostile to the South Vietnamese government, but loyal to U.S. Army Special Forces commanders. Those indicated as effective could readily become transformed into excellent strike forces with proper training and leadership. Superb tribes saw extended offensive action under U.S. Army Special Forces control, while the Nungs were used for the most elite assignments.
* Includes the Khmer Kampuchea Kron (KKK) and the Khmer Serei (Free Cambodia), both underground Cambodian political factions.
** South Vietnam only. There were about 300,000 Nungs in North Vietnam as well.