Approximately 8,000 members of the Tai Men ethnic group live within Borikhamxai Province in central Laos. They are mostly concentrated in Khamkeut District, with several villages in Viangthong and Pakkading districts. A few have migrated into the Pakxan District in recent decades.
The Tai Men share many similarities to their Lao and tribal Tai neighbors, but their largest distinguishing factor is their language, which is a Northern Tai variety. The Tai Men speak their mother tongue in their homes, but speak Lao with outsiders.
Not only do the Tai Men consider themselves a distinct people group, they also retain many customs that show they originated in a place far removed from their present location.
In Laos, there is always a set of rules and regulations that must be adhered to when a marriage is being arranged. People believe that to upset the protocol could bring bad luck to the young man and girl.
One observer noted, "Usually, a maiden is free to marry the man of her choice. As there are no colleges to be first graduated from, no fortunes to be first won, this she does early in life.... There is no attention paid in public...as this would be highly immodest and unbecoming. But when the couple have decided that they love one another...the consent of the parents of guardians is sought, usually by a go-between. If it is granted, an early day is set for the marriage, at which time the groom pays to the family of his bride the accustomed spirit-fines, signs a marriage contract, drawn up by the heads of the two families, comes to the house of his bride, where together they receive her parents' blessing and become man and wife. By marriage the groom has left his father's house in the full sense of the word. If he has sisters he cannot inherit a single fruit grove nor rice field. He becomes a son to his parents-in-law, and his earnings for several years go toward the general family support. He also changes his former liege lord and becomes a serf to the lord of the family of his wife."
An informant from Borikhamxai believes there are a small number (about 50) of Tai Men Christians in Laos. These are the first-fruits of what will hopefully be a much larger harvest of Tai Men believers.
* Scripture Prayers for the Tai Do in Laos.
* Pray God would call the Tai Men believers to live strong, faithful and busy lives among their lost relatives.
* Ask God to spread the Tai Men church among all of their group.
* In prayer, plead with God for the souls of the Tai Men. Pray He would have mercy on them.
Profile Source: Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
People Name General | Tai Do |
People Name in Country | Tai Do |
Population this Country | 3,700 |
Population all Countries | 4,100 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Thái |
People ID | 15306 |
ROP3 Code | 109905 |
Country | Laos | ||
Region | Asia, Southeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
Persecution Rank | 22 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | Bolikhamxai province: Khamkeut district, Lak Xao, Khamkeut, Na Heuang, Nam Sak, Sop Chat, Ka’ane, Phon Thoen, Sop Pone, and Tha Veng; Vieng Thong district. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Laos |
Region | Asia, Southeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
Persecution Rank | 22 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | Bolikhamxai province: Khamkeut district, Lak Xao, Khamkeut, Na Heuang, Nam Sak, Sop Chat, Ka’ane, Phon Thoen, Sop Pone, and Tha Veng; Vieng Thong district.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
No people group map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.
Primary Language | Tai Yo (3,700 speakers) |
Language Code | tyj Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Unknown |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Tai Yo (3,700 speakers) |
Language Code | tyj Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Tai Yo |
Primary Language: Tai Yo
Bible Translation Status: Translation Needed
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
None reported |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
100.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
Unknown
|
Independent |
Unknown
|
Orthodox |
Unknown
|
Other Christian |
Unknown
|
Protestant |
Unknown
|
Roman Catholic |
Unknown
|
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2021 Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Profile Source | Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |