The name Pong is the self-name of this group, but they are not the same group or language as the 21,000-strong Pong of Xiangkhoang, so we have used their alternate name Hung to avoid confusion. The Hung language may be the same as, or a closely related dialect to the Tum language in Laos. It is possible the Hung were officially counted as part of the Tum ethnic group (2,510 people) in the 1995 census.

Both Hung and Tum are part of the Viet-Muong branch of Mon-Khmer. The Mon-Khmer language family is a broad classification of languages that range from China to the Nicobar Islands and India. You can find many Mon-Khmer speakers in China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia with some in Malaysia.

More than half of the ethnic groups in Laos speak Mon-Khmer languages. In the southern arm of the country communication between the various Mon-Khmer speaking tribes is possible, but in the north mutually intelligibility appears more difficult.

According to the 1981 Language Atlas of the Pacific Area, the Hung language is spoken by people along the Vietnam border near Laos.

Until recently, many of the tribes in southern Laos practiced teeth-breaking.

The Hung people are animistic. They worship their ancestors on several special occasions throughout the year. They also serve spirits that can only harm them. They don't know about the sovereign Lord who can protect them from the spirits.

The area of Laos inhabited by the Hung is remote and unevangelized. There are no Christians among this small group.

Pray for the gospel to spread to every tribe in the Hung homeland.

Pray for more information to become available about the Hung people.

Pray for a movement to Christ among the Hung people of Vietnam this decade.

Pray for receptive hearts when they hear about the powerful Savior.

Scripture Prayers for the Hung in Vietnam.

Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission