The Ma Lai or Lai Tradition in Vietnamese Folklore
- Date of account
- 1900–1946
- Location
- Vietnam, especially upland and central regions
- Source
- model_recalled_reference
- Record updated
- 2026-10-10
Record summary
Vietnamese and mainland Southeast Asian traditions use related terms such as ma lai or lai for dangerous nocturnal beings, witches, or disembodied and mobile forms that may prey on people. The terminology and exact morphology vary considerably by ethnic community and language. This lead is useful for comparison with krasue, manananggal, and other bodily-transforming figures, especially in studying cross-border motif transmission. A researcher should locate a specific French colonial ethnography, Vietnamese publication, or community-based account from 1900–1946 rather than relying on later paranormal compilations.
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