Folk literature of the Khmer in Southern Vietnam: a mechanism for maintaining ethnic cultural identity in the contemporary context

This paper examines the folk literature of the Khmer in Southern Vietnam as a social mechanism for sustaining ethnic identity in a contemporary context. Drawing on approaches that view folklore as communicative behavior, performance, and cultural memory, the study uses qualitative textual analysis, contextual analysis, and cultural interpretation. Its sources include Khmer folk narratives, proverbs, songs, festivals, and traditional theatrical forms documented in anthologies, scholarly studies, and specialized publications. The analysis focuses on four dimensions: collective memory, social practice, adaptive interaction, and contemporary value. The findings show that Khmer folk literature preserves environmental knowledge, place-name histories, Buddhist ethics, and cultural traditions while remaining active through storytelling, ritual singing, and folk performance. These practices continually reactivate tradition and contribute to the formation of present-day cultural norms. In the multi-ethnic setting of Southern Vietnam, Khmer folklore has not been displaced; rather, it has selectively absorbed external elements and reinterpreted them through its own value system. It therefore continues to serve as a resource for cultural identification, community education, and the maintenance of ethnic identity.