The Ma achieved some form of political unity and a stratified society before the 19th century due to the influence of the Funan.

[2] This, however, broke down due to varying factors such as the French colonization, inter-group warfare, and slave trading.

[2] The Mon-Khmer-speaking group called Cho Ro is identified by some ethnologists as a subgroup of the Ma people.

The Mạ have a rich oral traditions, and their culture is a tapestry of folklore.

[7] A detailed description the beliefs, customs, ethno-geography and botany of the Mạ people is given by fr:Jean Boulbet, having lived in what is now the Cát Tiên and Bảo Lâm districts in the 1950-60s: before the extensive influx of lowland people to the region.