Myanmar People and Races
Palaung
The Palaungs, who mainly live in the Kalaw area
in Shan State, belong to the Mon-Khmer stock. It
takes about two to four hours through the hills to
the village of the Palaung tribe. At first a steep
track leads down into a narrow valley where the
Palaung cultivate cheroot, tea, damsons and mangoes
on the hillsides. The track across the valley floor
and then climbs very steeply again to the Palaung
village of Pinnabin, which sits on top of a hill.
Palaung costumes feature bright and saturated
color, with married women wearing cane rings around
their waists to indicate marital status. Most
Palaungs in the village prefer their traditional way
of life, and live in the long houses unique to their
tribe. Six Palaung families live together without
separation in this 30-metre-or-so long house, in
which all daily activities take place - weaving,
cooking and child caring. Tiny chambers are set up
for some degree of privacy. The village has an
interesting long houses for eight families. Observe
tribal village life and how the Palaung people
drying cheroot in a specially designed oven. The
Palaung originate from Mon-Khmer stock. They mainly
live in the mountains and are mostly Buddhist.
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