... and hunting still plays an important part, as well as collecting bamboo and wild vegetables in the forest.

Decisions in the village are taken by the naiban (a headman who governs the village according to the Lao administrative system), assisted by a council of elders or notables and the religious priest.

Today the Phunoi live in nuclear family units. The father is the head of the household. Phunoi men are monogamous, only very rich men can afford to have one or two minor wives. The bride price in Phunoi marriages is generally quite high, including old French Piasters, livestock and rice whiskey. Divorce is permissible in Phunoi society, as long as both agree and the family property is divided into three parts, one of them going to the wife. If the fault is considered on the wife's side, she loses all claims to all goods.

Most of the Phunoi still practice their traditional religion, a blend of animism and ancestor worship. They believe that their natural surroundings are controlled by supernatural beings and a spirit is associated with many features, natural and man-made. The spirits have to be placated with sacrifices to encourage them to bless the village. Especially during planting and harvest season sacrifices are held in honour of the village spirit.

Their deceased are washed, dressed in their best clothes and placed in a wooden coffin. Traditionally, grains of silver or gold, nowadays normally French Piasters are placed in the mouth of the deceased.