Living in the Truong Son mountain range, the Pa Co minority ethnic group has preserved a vibrant culture rooted in nature and distinct from neighboring groups, despite centuries of intermingling.
Numbering more than 50,000, the Pa Co are mainly concentrated in the mountainous districts of Hue City and Quang Tri Province. Their name, meaning “highlanders,” sets them apart from lowland communities.
While they share some farming techniques and clothing influences with ethnic neighbors such as the Co Tu and Ta Oi, the Pa Co retain a rich spiritual life. Their Ada, or new rice celebration, is among the most distinctive of their annual festivals.
Pa Co attire also reflects their identity: men wear loincloths, sleeveless shirts, and sometimes sarongs, while women wear skirts and tie their hair in buns. Traditional garments combine vivid red and black, underscoring their cultural heritage.
