 Flag of Tai Don people in Muang Lay, used since 1944 to 1953 | |
 Traditional costume of the White Tai | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 490,000[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Vietnam,Laos | |
| Languages | |
| Tai Dón,Lao, others | |
| Religion | |
| Tai folk religion,[2]Theravada Buddhism,Christianity |
White Tai (inTai Dón, ꪼꪕꪒꪮꪙꫀ,/taj˦˦.dɔn˦˥/;[3] inThai language andLao languageTai Khao; inVietnamese languageTai Dón orThái Trắng, inChinese languageDai Duan) is anethnic group ofLaos,Vietnam andChina. In Vietnam they are called Tai Dón or Thái Trắng and are included in the group of theTái peoples, together with theThái Đen ("Black Tai"),Thái Đỏ ("Red Tai"),Phu Thai,Tày Thanh andThái Hàng Tổng. The group of the Tái people is the third largest of the fifty-four ethnic groups recognized by the Vietnamese government. They immigrated toVietnam andLaos fromYunnan (China)
There are approximately 280,000 White Tai in Vietnam (2002), 200,000 in Laos (1995) and 10,000 in Yunan province, China (1995).[1]
The White Tai migrated from China to Laos several centuries ago, settling along the Red and Black Rivers.[4][5]
The White Tai speak a language calledTai Khao, also calledTai Dón. It is aTai–Kadai language.[4]
Men are the heads of White Tai households, although division of labor is nearly equal.[4]
The White Tai believe in multiple personal souls and hold ceremonies to recall those souls to strengthen their character.[4]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| Austroasiatic (Vietic) | |
|---|---|
| Austroasiatic (non-Vietic) | |
| Hmong–Dao | |
| Tai–Kadai | |
| Sino-Tibetan (Chinese) | |
| Sino-Tibetan (Tibeto-Burman) | |
| Malayo-Polynesian | |
| Immigrants and expatriate | |
The 54 officially recognised ethnic groups are ranked by population in their language families according to2019 census
| |
| Lao-Tai | |
|---|---|
| Vietic | |
| Khmeric | |
| Katuic | |
| Bahnaric | |
| Khmu-Palaungic | |
| Hmong–Mien | |
| Tibeto-Burman | |
| Austronesian | |
| Other | |
| General grouping |
|
