There
are 68 official ethnic groups in Laos, belonging to three
main groups.
Lao
Loum - Lao, or Lao Loum consists of about half of the poulation.
The Lao Loum or lowland lao people live in the Mekong river
valley and its tributaries. The Lao Loum cultivate and eat
wet, or sticky rice, and generally practice Theravada Buddhism.
Lao Loum are a subgroup of the Austro-Thai people and speak
the Lao language. The Lao Loum women wear the traditional
sinh - the wraparound sarong. Lao Tai are closely related
to the Lao Loum and are officially classified in that group.
The Lao Tai are more tribal than the Lao Loum and cultivate
both wet rice and dry mountain rice. Lao Tai traditionally
practice slash and burn agricultural methods. The Lao Tai
on the whole have not converted to either Christianity or
Buddhism and retain their animist beliefs. Lao Tai are further
subdivided into sub groups by the colour of their traditional
clothing, ie Black, White, Red Tai.
Lao
Theung are the largest hilltribe group, with 45 subgroups.
The Lao Theeung are semi nomadic and of Mon-Khmer origin.
They live on mountain slopes, between 300 and 900m altitude
and practice slash and burn agriculture. The Khamu subgroup
is found in the north and grow mountain rice, cotton, coffee
and tobacco. The Tin subgroup is found in Sayabouli province
- they are hunters and do not use metal tools, using only
wood and bamboo. The Akha and Alak subgroups live in the south
in the Boloven plateau.
Lao
Sung or High Lao live in the high mountains of the north.
Main groups are the Hmong and the Mien. Hmong are divided
into Black, Red, White and Striped, according to their clothing.
The Hmong raise cattle, pigs and chickens and generally survive
on a barter economy. The Mien have a similar language to the
Hmong and are known for their silver craftsmanship. Smaller
hilltribe groups include the Lisu, Lahu and Lolo.
As
well as the four main groups, Laos also has a number of Chinese,
mainly living in the cities as well as ethnic Vietnamese,
Cambodians, Burmese and Thai, In Vientiane there are also
a small number of southern Asians.
Lao
Loum - Lao, or Lao Loum consists of about half of the poulation.
The Lao Loum or lowland lao people live in the Mekong river
valley and its tributaries. The Lao Loum cultivate and eat
wet, or sticky rice, and generally practice Theravada Buddhism.
Lao Loum are a subgroup of the Austro-Thai people and speak
the Lao language. The Lao Loum women wear the traditional
sinh - the wraparound sarong. Lao Tai are closely related
to the Lao Loum and are officially classified in that group.
The Lao Tai are more tribal than the Lao Loum and cultivate
both wet rice and dry mountain rice. Lao Tai traditionally
practice slash and burn agricultural methods. The Lao Tai
on the whole have not converted to either Christianity or
Buddhism and retain their animist beliefs. Lao Tai are further
subdivided into sub groups by the colour of their traditional
clothing, ie Black, White, Red Tai. 
Lao
Theung are the largest hilltribe group, with 45 subgroups.
The Lao Theeung are semi nomadic and of Mon-Khmer origin.
They live on mountain slopes, between 300 and 900m altitude
and practice slash and burn agriculture. The Khamu subgroup
is found in the north and grow mountain rice, cotton, coffee
and tobacco. The Tin subgroup is found in Sayabouli province
- they are hunters and do not use metal tools, using only
wood and bamboo. The Akha and Alak subgroups live in the south
in the Boloven plateau.
Lao
Sung or High Lao live in the high mountains of the north.
Main groups are the Hmong and the Mien. Hmong are divided
into Black, Red, White and Striped, according to their clothing.
The Hmong raise cattle, pigs and chickens and generally survive
on a barter economy. The Mien have a similar language to the
Hmong and are known for their silver craftsmanship. Smaller
hilltribe groups include the Lisu, Lahu and Lolo. 
