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LAO
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Name of Ethnic Group: Lao (Lao Boc and Lao Noi).
Population: About 9,600 people.
Locality: Concentrated in Dien Bien and Phong
Tho Districts of Lai Chau Province, Song Ma District of
Son La Province, and Than Uyen District of Lao Cai
Province.
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Customs and Habits: The Lao worship their ancestors
and are influenced by Buddhism. The Lao often take the
family names of Lo, Luong, or Vi. Children take the family
name of their father. When a person dies, a funeral
ceremony and burial is carefully organized. Cremation
occurs only if the deceased is the chief of a "muong" or a
"ban" (village).
Culture: The Lao language belongs to the Tay-Thai
Group. The "mo lam" (sorcerers) of Lao culture are very
good at writing and narrating ancient tales and folksongs.
Lao folklore and its legacy is heavily influenced by Thai
culture. The "lam vong" (Lao Folk Dance) are always
performed during festivals and ceremonies.
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Costumes: Women wear black skirts that are knotted
at the front and come up to their chests. The hems are
usually decorated with two bands of embroidered motifs in
different colors.Lao men used to have a Han script and an
animal tattooed on their wrist and thighs.
Economy: The Lao primarily grow rice in
submerged fields using advanced techniques such as
ploughing, harrowing, and irrigating. Additional family
income is generated through weaving, blacksmithing,
pottery, and silver production. |
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