Halang in Laos


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Halang, and their close relatives the Sedang, claim to have originated in a place far north of their present location, perhaps in China.

Speakers of the Halang language live in southern Laos. They primarily inhabit the Sanxai District of Attapu Province, near the Vietnam border. A smaller number spill across into the Dakchung District of Xekong Province. In addition, Halang live in Vietnam, where they are part of the official Sedang ethnic group. In Laos, the Halang are often referred to as Kayong or Salang. The Halang also speak a different language from the Halang Doan and the Kri, who are sometimes called Halang Kri. The Halang language is part of the North Bahnaric branch of the Mon-Khmer family.


What Are Their Lives Like?

For centuries the Halang have been "slash-and-burn" agriculturists. To break up the soil, the Halang did not use tools or instruments, but simply let humans and water buffaloes trample it. After the soil was broken up, the dirt was softened by water and planting commenced.

The names of Halang people are determined by the sex of the child. All girls are given the prefix Y (e.g. Y-Hong), while all boy's names start with A.

Marriage is simple among the Halang. After the wedding the couple lives alternately with the wife's family and then the husband's family for equal lengths of time. Only when the couple have produced several children do they move into their own home.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Halang people adhere to their traditional animistic religion. They serve the spirit world in hopes of living better lives.

Although there are no known Christians among the Halang on the Lao side of the border, missionaries were active among the Halang in Vietnam prior to their expulsion in 1975.

The missionaries translated the books of Genesis, Mark, John, Acts and Romans into Halang in 1970, produced a Halang gospel recording, and have helped evangelize the Halang by producing and funding short-wave gospel radio broad-casts in the Halang language. These broadcasts are aired by the Far East Broadcasting Company for 15 minutes every week.


What Are Their Needs?

The Halang people, be they in Laos or Vietnam, need to put their faith in Jesus Christ alone. They will need to turn their backs on the spirit world.


Prayer Points

Pray the Halang believers in Vietnam would seek to reach their unreached relatives in Laos.

Ask God to raise up laborers to plant churches among the Halang.


Scripture Prayers for the Halang in Laos.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Halang
People Name in Country Halang
Pronunciation HA-lahng
Alternate Names Xơ-đăng
Population this Country 6,700
Population all Countries 24,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 16138
ROP3 Code 111234
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 Attapu and Xekong provinces, Sanxai and Dakchung districts   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 Attapu and Xekong provinces, Sanxai and Dakchung districts.   Source:  Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999
Map of Halang in Laos Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.76 %)
0.76 %
Ethnic Religions
99.24 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Halang (6,700 speakers)
Language Code hal   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Halang (6,700 speakers)
Language Code hal   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Halang

Primary Language:  Halang

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1970-1984)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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