Just one village of Tchaho people live in the Gnot-Ou District of Phongsali Province, in the extreme north of the country near the China border.

     According to the 1995 census, a total of 24,253 people lived in the Gnot-Ou District, an average of 7.4 people per household, making it an area with one of the highest birth rates in Laos. Even in other districts within the same province birthrates are much lower. Phongsali District has an average family size of 5.6 people, Khoua District 5.8 people, and the Boun-Tai and Boun-Nua districts 5.9 inhabitants per household.

     The Tchaho are a Mon-Khmer speaking group. They claim to have migrated into Laos from China, but there is no record of a similarly-named ethnic group in China today.

     Animism, with elements of shamanism, is the religion of the Tchaho. Buddhism has made no impact on them. In the past, shamans, or spirit priests lived in most villages. The shamans often took advantage of the fears of the people, demanding high payment and animal sacrifices for their services that sometimes plunged a family in debt for generations.

     An early missionary summarized the effects shamanism had on common people.... "This belief in witchcraft is often used by the ruling class to forward selfish interests or to wreak their vengeance upon an offending family, thus taking an unfair advantage through the aid of a superstition that they themselves believe in. The awful shadow cast over Laos life by these superstitions is simply indescribable. The people are religiously like frightened children in the dark. They call and cry to one another, but are only the more frightened by the sounds and echoes of one another's voices, and in their groupings they start and scream as they touch one another, deeming it a devil instead of a friend. They stumble, they reel to and fro, they fall and cry out in a death agony that they would rather abide in the present known evil than to be launched into the future unknown."201

     Trapped by inward fears and superstitions that they believe too strong to oppose, the Tchaho remain ignorant of the freedom and light that faith in Christ can bring. None have reportedly believed the Gospel.

Additional Information

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