Hre in Vietnam

People Name:	Hre
Country:	Vietnam
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	156,000
World Population:	156,000
Primary Language:	Hre
Primary Religion:	Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents:	10.00 %
Evangelicals:	7.70 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Mon-Khmer
Affinity Bloc:	Southeast Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Hre people are an Indigenous ethnic group of Vietnam who primarily inhabit the western parts of Qu?ng Ngãi and Bình ??nh provinces, with some communities also in Kon Tum province. They speak Hrê, a Mon–Khmer language of the Austroasiatic family, and historically developed local identities shaped by the rivers near which they settled. Their name has appeared in various historical forms, reflecting long-term interaction with neighboring groups and Vietnamese authorities. As some of the oldest inhabitants of the Tr??ng S?n–Tây Nguyên region, the Hre have maintained agricultural traditions and cultural practices passed down through generations.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Hre families rely on wet-rice farming as their primary livelihood, though some households still practice slash?and?burn agriculture, gather forest products, hunt, and raise livestock such as buffalo, pigs, dogs, and chickens. Women and men contribute to agricultural work, and basketry and weaving—though less common today—remain traditional handicrafts practiced in some villages.

Rice is their daily staple, supplemented by festival foods such as sticky rice. Families often prepare meals using simple tools and handmade dishware, and rice wine is commonly shared during gatherings and celebrations. Hre households typically live in stilt houses with distinctive architectural features and extended?family connections help shape communal life. Villages frequently participate in cultural celebrations such as buffalo?stabbing festivals, musical performances using traditional gongs, and songs like Ka choi and Ka leu, which preserve their oral and musical heritage.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The primary religious identity of the Hre is considered atheistic in the sense that traditional Hre spirituality does not center on an organized religious system but reflects animistic customs, rituals, and reverence for nature woven into cultural life. Some communities also show influence from Buddhist traditions due to regional contact, though their core religious expression remains rooted in ancestral customs and local practices.

What Are Their Needs?

Many Hre communities face limited economic opportunities, relying heavily on subsistence agriculture in mountainous regions where resources are difficult to access. Improvements in education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihood development would greatly strengthen family stability and community resilience.

Spiritually, the Hre would benefit from greater access to Scripture, compassionate witness, and long-term discipleship that helps them understand the hope and mercy available only through Jesus Christ. Encouraging mature believers to share Christ in culturally sensitive ways would support ongoing spiritual growth.

Prayer Points

Pray for healthier harvests, improved farming conditions, and economic stability for Hre families living in remote areas.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will open hearts to recognize Jesus as the true source of hope and restoration.
Pray that emerging believers among the Hre will grow strong in faith and serve others as part of Christ's global discipleship movement.
Where followers of Jesus Christ are present among the Hre, pray that they will grow in maturity and become part of the gospel force reaching other ethnic groups in Vietnam, especially those still waiting to hear the good news.