The few Cham who successfully concealed their identities often died from disease or starvation. Today, the remaining Cham survive by farming, fishing, building boats, and light commerce. Bombing, civil war, and war with the Vietnamese have brought an end to the once thriving agricultural economy. The soil is not fertile, but the plains flood every rainy season. This overflow is full of fish while it lasts, and leaves rich alluvial deposits when it recedes.
Cham villagers are extremely poor, and their settlements convey a sense of impermanence.
Homes are made of split bamboo and are elevated above the ground to protect against flooding. Their diet of fish, rice, and vegetables is adequate, but most other necessities of life are severely lacking. The typical home has few adornments and domestic utensils. The Cham in Cambodia have preserved some of their original traits, such as the position of authority held by the maternal uncle. This is due to the fact that more men than women were killed between 1975 and 1979, creating a skewed sex ratio.