Mon (Mon: မန် or မည်) are one of the earliest ethnic group to reside in Southeast Asia, they do not have their only country, who mainly inhabit the southern Myanmar border with Thailand. There is a small ‘Mon Village’ next to a hotel in Kanchanaburi (กาญจนบุรี) Province, which can tell you a bit about this fading tribe.
Mon were a source of influence on the culture of Myanmar and Thailand. The Mon culture is similar to Myanmar’s, Mon women also like to put the powder of Thanaka (Burmease: သနပ်ခါး) on their faces.
Mon were responsible for the spread of Theravada Buddhism in Mainland Southeast Asia. The civilisations founded by Mon were some of the earliest in Thailand as well as Myanmar.
Most of the Mon people who live in Kanchanaburi Province are the descendants of the refugees during Burmese–Siamese War, now there are around 110,000 Mon people living in Thailand.
This Mon village is built by the French owner of the hotel where Choumeizai lives, to preserve the traditions and culture of Mon.
There is a small school in Mon Village, according to the tour guide, the Mon children will go to regular school to study Thai language and the other subjects, but only come here to learn Mon language and culture on Saturday.
Choumeizai wonders, how many fading tribes inside the deep jungle of Indochina?
