The Kinh, also known as the Vietnamese, are the predominant ethnic group in Vietnam, making up about 86% of the population. The Kinh settled along the whole of Vietnam. Vietnamese is the native language of the Vietnamese (Kinh), and is the first or second language of many ethnic minorities in Vietnam. Traditionally, the Kinh people live in villages. Many villages gathered together into one commune. Each village can have more than one hamlet. If calculating a village in the North it is equal to a hamlet in the South. In the villages and communes there is a separate law that everyone must enforce. Villages in the North are often shielded by planting bamboo or building strong gates. Each village has a place of convergence and common worship. Some villages have a communal house to worship the village royal citadel, who is considered the protector of the village. In ancient times, women were prohibited from going to the communal house. They also raise cattle and poultry. They usually hold a lot of festivals during the year. They have traditional costumes such as ao dai and ba ba.