With 800,000 inhabitants (1.3% of the Vietnamese population), Kho'mer occupies the second rank among the populous ethnic minorities in Vietnam. Being tillers by nature, they skirted the Mekong River to settle in Hau Giang, AnGiang, Kien Giang,Dong Thap, Long An & Tay Ninh. They are descended from the ancient Kho'mer people with a famous civilization in the past. Their villages are often surrounded with pagodas and rows of palm-trees.