More than 100,000 So people reportedly live in western Laos. They are concentrated on both sides of the Mekong River in the northern half of Savannakhet and the southern part of Khammouan provinces. A further 55,000 So live across the border in Thailand, especially in Nakhon Phanom and Sakon Nakorn provinces. The So in Thailand are better-known as Tro. They were brought to Thailand as prisoners of war after the Siamese sacked the city of Vientiane in 1827. Since then the So have struggled to avoid the Thai government's policy of assimilation. The So especially feel the education policies of Thailand are especially designed to assimilate them to Thai society and culture.

The So language is closely related to Bru and Mangkong. Some linguists call the So language Western Bru. The So were not counted separately in the 1995 census of Laos. It is possible their population was incorporated into the overall Mangkong figure of more than 92,000.

In Thailand the So are more Buddhist than their counterparts in Laos, who are primarily animists with some Buddhist influence.

There are a small number of So Christians in Laos today, but most members of this group have never heard the Gospel.

In Thailand, several missionaries have attempted to reach the So, including Bob and Eileen West of New Tribes Mission, who translated Scripture portions into the So language in 1980. Although some So have believed, overall they are considered relatively resistant to the claims of Christ.... "Before the Communist takeover in Laos, missionaries worked hard on the Laotian side of the border, but with little response. They have also spent fifteen years in Thai So villages, translating Bible portions and evangelistic books into their dialects.... Although they often show an intense interest in Scripture, the So have not yet overcome the spiritual barriers that prevent them from embracing the King of Kings. Their families and relatives all fear that if any one of them abandons worship of the spirits, the entire family will be punished. Consequently, only a few have accepted Christ to date, barely enough in any one place to form a church."

Additional Information

1. Gospel Recording in So here: So resources page If you are aware of other recordings, literature, or anything else for the So people, please let us make it available online.
2. Getting there - If you make a trip to the So people, share your experience and advice here: So travel page
3. Information - Do you know something more about the beliefs of the So? Do you have a story to tell? Do you have a picture? Please share it here.
4. Does anyone know of a So believer inside or outside of Laos?
5. Intercession - Have you gotten any impressions, scriptures or words while praying for this group? Have you visited their area? Please share these and we will include them on the prayer page here: So prayer page
6. Adoption - This is a small group, but that doesn't diminish the importance of these people in Gods' heart. If you feel led to focus on this group, maybe God will use in a miraculous way to reach them with the Gospel! Need assistance? Contact us at: millionelephants@gmail.com, subject: adoption