Costumes of The Cam Community in Central Vietnam

Costumes of the Cam Community in Central Vietnam, in particular their attire are heavily influenced by the way of life and beliefs of the two dominat groups namely Cam Ahira* or Cam Akhir and Cam Bani or Cam Awal*. The dignitaries of the respective groups played and important role in shaping their religious customes.

The Cam community in Phanrang and Phanri in Central Vietnam is led by two religious heads. Po Adhia represents the Cam Ahiar group while Po Gru, The Cam Bani. There are some 17 religious figures working under the two heads. They are responsible for religious ceremonies related to royal worship, state warriors, ancestral and spritual worshop. This group is further divided into three divisions namely:
- Cam Ahiar dignitaries
- Cam Bani dignitaries
- Cam Ahiar and cam Bani dignitaries*

In wvery ceremony, the dignitaries worn attires that are based on their status. They wear clothings of different patterns complete with headgear and sarung.

The width of the tassels on the headgear and sarong will usually determine their status in the hierarchy. Dignitaries from the Cam Bani group are bald while others kept their hair long. All the Cam dignitaries in Central Vietnam cover their head with pieces of white or red cloth or headgears with golden, red, yellow , black or green tassels. They war long or short baju kurung of white background, white shorts, white sarung or white sarong with their red, black or golden tassels. The sarong is worn with a white belt or any colour similar to the piece of neck cloth wrapped over the shoulder.

-The Cam Ahiar or Cam akhir grroup practiced the rites of ancestral worship which inter mixed with elements of Islamic civilisation.
-The Cam Bani or cam Awal praticed the Islamic religion which inter mixed with elements of local beliefs and the Hindu religion. Nevertheless, since 1960s, a number of them had professed the true Islamic Religion.
- A group of noblemen responsible in conducting local ceremonies for this two main groups.