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Population in Luang Namtha |
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| The classification of Ethnic Groups in the Lao P.D.R |
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As we are well aware that nearly no country in the world has its population constituted by one race or a single ethnic group. In fact, all nations are constituted by different dialects, costume, traditions, beliefs and culture. Through each period of history, through the communication, generosity, unity and helping each other among the ethnic groups there has been some change, but of course, it still encompasses diversified beliefs and other. Ethic group is a matter of complexity for our world today. However, it is significant and meaningful for the strength and firm monolith of a nation.
As far as the Lao P.D.R. is concerned, despite being a smal nation, with its total territory of 236,800 square meters and its population of over 5 million people, it is composed of many ethnic groups having numerous particularities which are not the same with those of other countries in the world ( The Ethnic Groups in Lao P.D.R ., Department of Ethnics, 2005).
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| The main Ethnic Groups in Luang Namtha Province |
| Hmong |
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History The Hmong have an old history, with Chinese records referring to the Hmong as early as the second millennium BC. The Hmong first migrated to Laos from the area of northern Vietnam in the early 19 th Century.
Due to their wide distribution over regions in southern China and northern mainland Southeast Asia , the various Hmong subgroups have quite ...Read more |
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| Akha |
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History The Akha originally settled in the Kuaichao and Yunan, which are today provinces of China . After moving down to the Southern part of Yunan, they later moved to Va and Xientung districts of Burma and then to Lai Chao district of Vietnam. Only later did the settle in the mountainous areas in northern Laos during the last 200 years. Read more |
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| Khmu |
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History The Khamu are one of the oldest inhabitants of northern Laos . They arrived in the area at least by the early first millennium AD, long before the first Lao.
Some anthropologists believe that the Khamu migrated from northern Burma and the southwestern part of Yunnan in China . Others believe they migrated from southern Vietnam northwards... Read more |
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| Lanten |
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History The Lanten people are an ethnic group that lives in northern Laos . They migrated from southern China and northern Vietnam during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Population Currently, there are about 18,000 Lanten people living in Laos Read more |
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| Tai Dam |
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History The Tai Dam (or Black Tai) are the largest ethnic group in northwestern Laos . The French colonizers of Vietnam and Laos chose to name these three Tai groups according to the colour of the women's blouses.
Tai Dam were traditionally from the regions of Hua Phan, and the Muang Thaeng area of Sip Song Chu Tai. Traditionally, the Tai Dam organised... Read more |
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| Tai Lue |
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The Lue probably originated in Kwangtung province of south-western China. They have the oldest recorded history of all the Tai groups according to which the first Lue king was crowned 1180 in Yunnam province of China. He ruled the kingdom of Sip Sawng Panna, of which Muang Sing was a part. In Muang Sing they arrived around 701 A.D with... Read more |
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| Tai Neua |
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The Tai Neua have lived in Laos for many centuries. They moved from the southern part of China and entered into Muang Sing, Luang Namtha Province, Lao PDR. First they had lived on Soye, Adth and Xieng Kho district in Hoaphan province. Then they moved to settle in the Ma River region of Phongsali and from Unan province (China) in to Namkeolung, Siliheung, pratoy...Read more |
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| Yao |
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The Yao are an old and widely distributed ethnic group with dozens of subgroups. It is believed that the ancestors of the Yao lived in China 4000 years ago. The main subgroup and the one living in Muang Sing are the Mien. The migration of the Yao from their place of origin, China, has been caused by infertile land, but also by the expansion of the opium trade and the reprisals of...Read more |
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| Phounoi |
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The name Phunoi is originally a derogatory name meaning “minor people”, but the Phunoi themselves have different legends explaining the origin of their name. Information about the history of the Phunoi is rare, but it seems they originated in the Tibetan highlands.
Their settlements are usually located near streams in forested mountain areas. They do not plan the layout but build their houses irregularly within the village boundaries. Today the Phunoi settlements are permanent but in the past they had both a permanent and a temporary residential area, the temporary for the people whose swidden fields were too far from the village and who would therefore be leaving the village.
They cultivate both wet and dry rice and raise a variety of animals. Gathering...Read more |
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