About 700 ethnic Tai Sam people live in the Kham District of Xiangkhoang Province in east-central Laos.

     The Tai Sam are one of several small Tai-speaking people groups living in this area. Others include the Tai Peung and Tai Laan.

     For many foreigners, who view Laos as a small, insignificant country, it is inconceivable to imagine the geographic isolation that can exist. Still today, it can take an arduous three or four days journey to get from Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, to come districts on the Vietnam border. Never-ending mountain ranges and lack of good roads often combine to produce torturous trips for the unwary.

     Travel to Laos is still incomparable with what it once was, however. When Lillian Johnson Curtis, a missionary in the late 1800's and early 1900's, traveled from Bangkok to 'Laos' (which was actually still in today's northern Thailand) she described the difficulties that had to be overcome: "There is but one way of reaching the land of the Laos, unless, indeed, you may wish to go to Burma and take the tedious and expensive overland trip either by pony or elephant. If you follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before, you will go to Bangkok and there take passage in one of the unique Laos boats that come down to trade each year on the high water. The upper reaches of the river are exceedingly dangerous, as many rapids and narrow rocky gorges are found in the mountain-passes.... By hiring a steam launch to tow the boat to Pak Nam Po and from there on using a double set of polemen, the journey can be cut in time to some eighteen or twenty days. But this is costly...by ordinary travel it will take from five to seven weeks to cover it, according to the stage of the water."186

     Not only has Christianity failed to reach the Kham District where the Tai Sam live, even Buddhism in its 1,500 years has failed to make any impact on the inhabitants there.

     The Tai Sam are animists, worshipping a multitude of local and regional spirits. Primary spirits include the spirit of the house, door, village gate, water, fire, mountains and thunder. The Tai Sam have no comprehension whatsoever of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Additional Information

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