Who are the Lao ethnic group in Vietnam and how many are there?
The Lao are one of the 54 ethnic groups recognised in Vietnam, self-named Thay, Thay Duon and Thay Nhuon, also called Phu Thay and Phu Lao. According to the Survey of 53 Ethnic Minority Groups of 1 April 2019, the Lao population in Vietnam is 17,532. Earlier, the 2009 Population and Housing Census put the figure at 14,928.
The Lao originated as migrants from Laos into Vietnam. In the official list, the Lao ethnic group comprises two local groups, Lao Boc (Dry Lao) and Lao Noi (Small Lao). This must be clearly distinguished: these are local groups of the same Lao ethnic group, not two separate ethnic groups.
Where do the Lao live?
The Lao live intermingled with the Thai, the Lu and the Kho Mu in the districts of Dien Bien, Phong Tho (Lai Chau) and Song Ma (Son La). This is the northern mountainous area, where many ethnic groups live side by side.
In terms of housing, the Lao live in stilt houses with a wide, airy floor, and intricately carved columns and beams. The roof is often extended to create a veranda for looms and weaving tools. This is an architectural feature tied to the weaving life of women in the household.
As for transport, the Lao are used to carrying baskets on their backs and shoulder poles with paired baskets, and are especially skilled at travelling by boat on rivers. In some places they also use packhorses.
Which language branch does the Lao language belong to?
The Lao language belongs to the Tay-Thai branch of the Thai-Kadai language family. This is a widespread language branch in Vietnam's northern mountains and is closely related to the languages of many neighbouring ethnic groups in the region.
As for writing, the Lao have a script based on the Sanskrit alphabet. Many books written on palm leaves are still kept by ritual masters (mo lam). In the past, boys all had to study Buddhist texts for three to seven years. On finishing, the teacher gave the student the name Sieng, meaning one who has mastered writing.
What occupations do the Lao pursue for a living?
The Lao practise wet-rice farming with sound techniques of leading water into the fields. They also work swidden fields and raise livestock and poultry. Household handicrafts of this ethnic group are especially developed.
They make pottery on a wheel, producing jars, vats, pots and earthenware of good quality. Brocade weaving yields many high-value products and reflects refined aesthetics. Blacksmithing and silver engraving also contribute significantly to many households' income. Gathering still plays a certain role in the Lao economy.
A notable custom is the use of water power to pound rice, which is a common practice among many mountain peoples in northern Vietnam. This is a form of water-powered mortar used by the Lao on the upper reaches of the Ma River.
How do the Lao dress and go about daily life?
In terms of food, the Lao mainly eat glutinous rice. As for foodstuffs, they favour dishes made from fish, especially the well-known Pa dec (marinated fish).
In terms of clothing, Lao women wear a skirt tied at the chest and falling to mid-calf, with hems embroidered in bright, vivid patterns. Women's blouses are short, leaving the upper chest bare. The silver hairpin or the pieu headscarf of Lao women is also skilfully engraved or embroidered. Lao men's clothing has many similarities with that of the Thai. Today, Lao girls still keep the custom of wearing skirts and headscarves, while the blouse has been sewn in new materials and styles.
What is distinctive about Lao social relations and marriage?
In the past, Lao society, though dependent on the administrative system of Thai feudalism, was self-governing at village level. Each village had a head called chau ban, representing community interests. This self-governing institution strongly influenced economic activity, spiritual life and traditional morality.
Like the Thai, the Lao hold that each person has three main kinship relations: ai Noong, Lung Ta and Dinh Xao. All lineages have taboos related to totemism.
In marriage, the Lao follow the principle of one-directional marriage. A boy from the Dinh Xao lineage is allowed and encouraged to marry a girl from the Lung Ta lineage, but the reverse is strictly forbidden. There is no custom of marrying a brother's wife or a wife's sister. Lao families, whether large or small, are clearly patriarchal, although women are still held in high regard. After marriage, the bride resides in the husband's house. Their families are usually stable, with few cases of polygamy, adultery or divorce. Relations within each household are usually harmonious, and children are cared for equally regardless of gender.
As for childbirth, pregnant women and women giving birth receive careful attention and care. They must also observe many taboos in eating and behaviour. Newborns are named after one month.
Worship customs and beliefs of the Lao
Every Lao family has an ancestor altar. Each village has a ritual master called mon, who specialises in ceremonies when someone is ill. Buddhism deeply influenced the cultural and social life of the Lao.
A point to note is that the Lao in Vietnam today no longer follow Buddhism as a custom, yet this religion still left traces in architectural relics. One recorded example is the tower at Muong Luan (Dien Bien Dong, Lai Chau).
As for funerals, cremation is performed only for the village head (chau ban). All other cases are buried. The cremation ceremony for the chau ban is presided over by the chau hua (a monk) with Buddhist rites that have been integrated and adapted to the ethnic tradition. Notably, the Lao do not weep at funerals, since they hold that death is merely a process of changing worlds.
The table below summarises the main cultural and religious domains of the Lao as recorded by the source material:
| Domain | Main features |
|---|---|
| Ancestor worship | Every family has an ancestor altar |
| Village ritual master | Each village has a ritual master called mon, specialising in ceremonies when someone is ill |
| Buddhist influence | Once deeply influential; Buddhism is no longer followed as a custom but traces remain in architectural relics |
| Funerals | Cremation only for the chau ban, other cases buried; no weeping at funerals |
| Literacy | Boys once studied Buddhist texts for three to seven years; books on palm leaves kept by ritual masters |
| Main festival | Bun Pi May, celebrated in lunar April according to the Buddhist calendar |
| Agricultural rites | Xo Nam Phon rain-praying ceremony, new-rice custom |
| Regular offerings | On the 15th and 30th of each month, offerings are made at the tower with Buddhist rites, using only fruit |
What are the main festivals of the Lao?
The Lao follow the Buddhist calendar and celebrate the New Year in lunar April each year, called Bun Pi May. This is the biggest festival of the year as recorded by the source material.
Each month, on the 15th and 30th, the Lao have the custom of making offerings at the tower with Buddhist rites, using only fruit. They also have many other belief rites related to agriculture, such as the rain-praying ceremony (Xo Nam Phon) and the new-rice custom.
It should be noted that the source material does not describe in detail the sequence, specific timing or scale of each festival, but only records the names and general nature. This is a point readers should know so as not to infer details absent from the source.
Folk arts and spiritual life
The Lao have a rich body of folk literature with many myths, fairy tales and folk songs. Lao women not only sing well but are also very good at folk dances. Having lived intermingled with the Thai for a long time, Lao folk arts are more or less influenced by Thai culture. According to the source material, this very exchange has made their arts richer.
This must be clearly distinguished: it is the source material's observation about cultural exchange, not an evaluation of superiority or inferiority between ethnic groups. Each ethnic group has its own identity, and cultural contact is a normal phenomenon in the process of co-residence.
How is the Lao ethnic group distinguished from others?
In the list of Vietnam's ethnic groups, the Lao stand at position 35, with other names Lao Boc and Lao Noi, and main residence in Lai Chau and Son La. This helps distinguish the Lao from ethnic groups with similar names or areas, such as the Thai (position 3), the Lu (position 40) or the Kho Mu (position 23).
It should be noted that the names Lao Boc and Lao Noi in the list appear in the other-names column, meaning local groups of the Lao ethnic group, not separate ethnic groups. This is an important point for ethnic classification under official regulations.
Points to note when learning about the Lao ethnic group
First, population figures differ between survey dates, so the data source should be clearly stated when cited.
Second, some cultural features such as one-directional marriage, totemic taboos or the view of death described in the source material are general. Reality may differ between villages or local groups, and the source does not detail each case. Readers should understand these as general descriptions, not rules applied uniformly to every Lao community in every locality.
Third, on beliefs, the source records that Buddhism was once deeply influential, but the Lao in Vietnam today no longer follow Buddhism as a custom. The remaining traces lie in architectural relics. Descriptions of belief practices should be understood as cultural practice, neither affirming nor denying spiritual efficacy.
Frequently asked questions
How many Lao people are there in Vietnam?
According to the Survey of 53 Ethnic Minority Groups of 1 April 2019, the Lao population is 17,532. According to the 2009 Population and Housing Census, the figure is 14,928.
Where do the Lao in Vietnam live?
The Lao live intermingled with the Thai, the Lu and the Kho Mu in the districts of Dien Bien, Phong Tho (Lai Chau) and Song Ma (Son La). In the official list, their residence is recorded as Lai Chau and Son La.
What are the main festivals of the Lao?
The biggest festival of the year is Bun Pi May, celebrated in lunar April according to the Buddhist calendar. There are also the Xo Nam Phon rain-praying ceremony, the new-rice custom, and the custom of making offerings at the tower on the 15th and 30th of each month with only fruit.
