More than 40,000 ethnic Tai Meuiy people live in the central part of Laos, especially in Borikhamxai, Khammouan, Xiangkhoang and Houaphan provinces. The Tai Meuiy community in Houaphan Province is just outside the town of Xam Neua (Sam Nua), which has a population of 46,000.

     For much of the past five centuries the area around Xam Neua was either an independent Tai Nuea state or a part of the Vietnamese vassal state known as Ai Lao. Houaphan only really became part of Laos while the area was under French rule. The Tai Meuiy language is close to Tai Dam (Black Tai). Some sources list it as a dialect of Tai Dam. It is also similar to Tai Men. Speakers from the two different groups can usually understand each other without too many problems.

     The main distinguishing marks of the Tai Meuiy are cultural. They hold to their own traditions, and have their own unique songs and poems, which trace their history and legends. It is believed the Tai Meuiy have only migrated into Laos from Vietnam since the 1920's.

     Animism holds sway among the Tai Meuiy. Buddhism has never been fully embraced by them. Their religious practices "often include aspects of animism (belief that non-human objects have spirits) and ancestor worship (praying to deceased relatives for help or guidance). Tai Meuiy religious life revolves around the spirit world. Public worship is addressed to the phii muang (village spirit), whose shrine is usually placed in the bush somewhere in the vicinity of the village. Offerings are made twice annually, once at the time of growth of the crops and again after the harvest. The phii heuan (household spirit) is the object of more individual worship, such as prayer. In serious situations, a spirit medium is employed to communicate with the spirits and to find out how to appease them. Unlike the Buddhists around them, the Tai Meuiy dispose of their dead by burial, not by cremation. They believe that the village or household spirits never allow cremation and would kill the children of the deceased if it is done."183

     There are only a few Christians among the Tai Meuiy in Laos. They may be able to use the Tai Dam Scriptures.

Additional Information

1. Gospel Recording in Tai Meuiy here: Tai Meuiy resources page If you are aware of other recordings, literature, or anything else for the Tai Meuiy people, please let us make it available online.
2. Getting there - If you make a trip to the Tai Meuiy people, share your experience and advice here: Tai Meuiy travel page
3. Information - Do you know something more about the beliefs of the Tai Meuiy? Do you have a story to tell? Do you have a picture? Please share it here.
4. Does anyone know of a Tai Meuiy 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: Tai Meuiy 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