Current management and use of cemetery and graveyard land of ethnic communities in Minh Hoa district, Quang Binh province

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the current status of land use and management of cemeteries and graveyards of ethnic communities in Minh Hoa district, Quang Binh province. A survey with 160 households from Kinh, Chut, and Bru – Van Kieu communities was carried out with the random selection method. The results show that the locals practise illegal burial without planning a land landmark for graveyard areas in many communes; Tombs and graves are scattered with other land-use types. The choice of construction model, tomb area, burial site selection, and burial customs is almost similar between the Kinh and the Chut communities, but very different with the Bru – Van Kieu community. From the current situation of land management in the district, this study proposes a number of solutions for managing and using cemetery and graveyard land in accordance with the practical situation of the ethnic communities in Minh Hoa district.