Cham Ethnic People in An Giang Province Celebrate Royal Festival

Cham ethnic people in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang are celebrating the Royal Festival after concluding their Ramadan month of fasting. During the ten-day festival, Cham people hold parties, visit their relatives and attend recreational activities. According to the Head of the Representative Board of the Islamic Cham Community, Musahaji, during the Ramadan 2010, Cham ethnic people in An Giang raised more than VND1 billion for social and charitable programs. The Cham community in An Giang province was formed over 20 years ago. There are 3,052 Cham families with 14,784 locals, accounting for 0.66% of the province’s population, living in nine hamlets in the four districts of Chau Thanh, Chau Phu, Phu Tan and An Phu, and Tan Chau town . Over the past years, the government has invested in transport infrastructure, education, and vocational training in the Cham area. In 2010, An Giang province has spent over VND5 billion from the government’s Programs 134 and 135 to offer vocational training courses, build 10 transport works and upgrade schools for local Cham people. (vietnamplus.vn Sept 27)