The Ruc: A Community Deeply Connected to the Truong Son Mountains and Forests
The Ruc are a subgroup of the Chut ethnic group, who once lived in isolation in caves among the mountains and forests of the Truong Son range in Quang Tri province. It was not until the 1960s that authorities discovered and persuaded them to leave the caves and settle in the Ruc Lan valley, Kim Dien commune. As of April 2022, the Ruc community numbered only about 580 people in 144 households. Despite over half a century of transition to a settled life, learning wet rice cultivation, cassava farming, and animal husbandry, the imprint of their hunting and gathering past remains strong in their memories and daily practices.
Amidst this significant cultural transformation, the Ruc's spiritual life retains unique characteristics, particularly a belief system centered on mountain and forest deities. This is not merely a religious faith but a thread connecting them to their traditional living space, which has nurtured the community for generations.
Mountain and Forest Deities: The Heart of Spiritual Life
Conceptions of Natural Deities
Unlike many other ethnic groups in Vietnam who practice ancestor worship, the Ruc focus their spirituality on deities tied to nature, with the highest being the mountain and forest spirits. This difference stems from their primitive cave-dwelling lifestyle, where survival depended entirely on the old-growth forest.
The Truong Son mountain forests were not only a source of food and water but also a sacred space inhabited by supernatural forces. The Ruc believe that all activities in the forest, from hunting and gathering to clearing land, require the permission and protection of the spirits. Disturbing the tranquility of the mountains without proper rituals could bring misfortune to the entire community.
The Relationship Between Humans and the Sacred Forest
According to cultural researchers, the Ruc's forest spirit worship reflects a symbiotic, reverent relationship between humans and the environment. The forest is not only a material source of life but also the final resting place. The most important concept in their spiritual life is that when a person dies, they return to the forest. This explains why the Ruc do not have the same ancestor worship systems as other ethnic groups; they believe the soul of the deceased does not remain in the home but merges with nature, becoming part of the mountains and forests.
Distinctive Religious Practices
Life-Cycle Rituals
Alongside mountain and forest spirit worship, the Ruc maintain various traditional practices reflecting their unique views on childbirth, health, and community protection. Rituals such as "thổi thắt," "thổi mở," or "hấp hơi" (traditional healing ceremonies) once existed in their culture, demonstrating a belief in supernatural intervention in human life.
These rituals were typically performed by respected community members who acted as intermediaries between humans and spirits. Through these ceremonies, the Ruc sought to ward off evil, cure illnesses, and ensure the safety of community members. These practices reveal a rich system of folk knowledge accumulated over centuries of living with the mountains.
Transformation in the New Settlement Context
Since leaving the caves to settle in the Ruc Lan valley, the Ruc's religious life has undergone certain changes. Contact with other ethnic groups, along with agricultural guidance from Border Guard soldiers and local authorities, has gradually altered some traditional customs.
However, this does not mean the forest spirit worship has completely faded. Many families still maintain habits of going to the forest to dig for tubers, gather bamboo shoots, and collect snails. According to some experts, these activities are not merely a food supplement but also a way to maintain a sacred connection to their traditional environment, which still holds the community's soul.
The Ruc in the Flow of Contemporary Culture
From a Mysterious Community to an International Film Subject
The uniqueness of the Ruc's cultural and spiritual life has made them a compelling subject for scientists and artists. The community is internationally ranked among the top 10 most mysterious ethnic groups in the world. In August 2025, the documentary film "Tốc, Giấy và Nước" (Toc, Paper, and Water) by directors Trương Minh Quý (Vietnam) and Nicolas Graux (Belgium) won the Golden Leopard at the 78th Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland.
The film was shot over three years in the communes of Kim Phú and Kim Điền, Quảng Trị province, centered on the character Cao Thị Hậu (70 years old), one of the last people born in the caves. The work not only documents daily life but also interweaves memories and present-day reality, reflecting the cultural transformation of the Ruc community through a cinematic lens.
The Intersection of Traditional Beliefs and Modernity
The event of Cao Thị Hậu traveling abroad for the first time to attend the Doha International Film Festival (Qatar) in November 2025 is a clear testament to the Ruc community's journey of change. From a person who once lived in a cave, she appeared in one of the Middle East's most modern cities, carrying her people's cultural story to an international audience.
However, presence at international forums does not mean losing identity. On the contrary, it is precisely these unique spiritual values, including mountain and forest spirit worship, that highlight Ruc culture to the world, earning recognition and respect. Their story reflects a universal truth: when a community undergoes lifestyle changes, deep spiritual values can still be preserved and transformed into globally valuable cultural heritage.
Conclusion
The mountain and forest spirit worship of the Ruc is not merely a belief system but an expression of the profound relationship between humans and nature. In the context of integration and cultural transformation, preserving these spiritual values not only helps the Ruc maintain their community identity but also contributes to Vietnam's cultural diversity. The Ruc's journey from cave dwelling to international film festivals demonstrates that traditional cultural values, when respected and shared appropriately, can become a bridge between past and present, local and global.
