Xinh Mun in Laos


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

According to a 1985 source, there were 2,164 Puoc people living in northern Laos. The Puoc primarily inhabit villages along the Et River in the Xiangkho District of Houaphan Province.

Strangely, the Puoc were counted as a distinct ethnic group in the 1985 Lao census but were not listed in the 1995 census. It is likely they have been incorporated into the Pong ethnic group.

The majority of Puoc live in neighboring areas of Vietnam. In Vietnam the Puoc are officially known as the Xinh Mun. Despite their similar-sounding names, the Xinh Mun are not related to the Singmoon ethnic group in Laos, who live near the Thai border.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Puoc communities are often mixed with the Tai Dam. Puoc women also wear clothing and headdresses similar to the Tai Dam. They wear a short vest that has a row of silver buttons carefully made in the shape of butterfly wings.

Three generations of the same family living under the one roof is common among the Puoc. Their homes are separated into two main sections. One section called the plang is reserved for single men or guests of the family. It also contains the altar for worshiping spirits. The second part, called the xia is the main section where the family sleeps, cooks and eats.

The two main family names among the Puoc are Vi and Lo. Each lineage shares a certain animal that is sacred to them.

Puoc women are in the habit of chewing betel-nut, which stains their teeth black. Black teeth "are so highly esteemed that one never sees a white tooth save in the mouth of a very young child. Betel-chewing tends to darken the enamel and chut is carefully rubbed on to intensify the black, for it is a common saying, 'Any dog can have white teeth'."


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Puoc are an animistic people who are bound by the spirit world.


What Are Their Needs?

The region inhabited by the Puoc on both sides of the Laos-Vietnam border has received very little Christian witness in the past. The nearest community of believers is probably near the city of Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam. None of the Puoc in Laos or Thailand reportedly follow Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray the long-neglected area where the Puoc live would soon be saturated with the gospel leading to a movement to Christ.

Ask God to make the Puoc hungry to seek for the truth.

Pray the Puoc would have a godly remnant in their midst, as a witness to those who don't know him.


Scripture Prayers for the Xinh Mun in Laos.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Xinh Mun
People Name in Country Xinh Mun
Alternate Names Kha Puhoc; Pua; Puok; Sing Mun; Singmoon; Xa; Xinh Mul; Xinh Mun; Xinh-mun
Population this Country 11,000
Population all Countries 45,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 14485
ROP3 Code 108192
Country Laos
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 21  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Houaphan province, Xiangkho district   Source:  Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999
Country Laos
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 21  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Houaphan province, Xiangkho district.   Source:  Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.05 %)
0.05 %
Ethnic Religions
99.95 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Puoc (11,000 speakers)
Language Code puo   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Puoc (11,000 speakers)
Language Code puo   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Puoc

Primary Language:  Puoc

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Joshua Project / Global Mapping International  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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