Around 10,000 Tong people live in areas north of Saravan city in Saravan Province of southern Laos. A few Tong also spill over into Vapi District.

     Research into the Tong is hampered by the fact they are known by several different names, including. Ong, and Hantong. These different appellations refer to the same group. Some Western mission organizations have listed the Tong under the name of Lower Ta Oi. While it is true the Tong are ethno-historically related to the Ta Oi, the languages of the two groups are now mutually unintelligible. The Tong language is closest to Ir, which is spoken by a group of people in the same general area. Wurm & Hattori, editors of the Language Atlas of the Pacific Area, stated there were a combined total of 10,000 Ir and Tong speakers in 1981.

     The Tong are animists. Since time immemorial they have worshipped certain deities and spirit-beings that they believe control the world. Animism often gains such a foothold in the hearts and minds of tribal people in Laos, that few are able to comprehend their need for the Gospel, should it be presented to them. Lillian Johnson Curtis, a missionary in the late 1800's and early 1900's, had this to say about the power of animism: "Spirit-worship, as existing among the Laos, is not reduced to a system as is Buddhism. It has no temples, but it is enshrined in the heart of every man, women, and child in the country . . . . It acknowledges no god, but gods many, both good and bad, more numerous and varied than those of the ancient Greeks. But little thought is given to the good spirits, if any such exists, but the bad ones have to be propitiated constantly; so constantly that it is just to term this people devil-worshippers. All the mon-asteries, shrines, and sacred bo trees of the land cannot soothe the heart of Laos-land that is trembling 'neath the scourge of demon fear . . . . All unusual occurrences are accounted for as being super-natural; or in other words, they account for all workings of nature outside of the most ordinary by referring to some spirit. If a house is blown down in a storm, the owner never thinks it was poorly built or that its posts are beginning to decay, but he cries: 'The spirits, the spirits, what have I done to anger the spirits? What must I do to propitiate them? . . . . Let us hasten to appease them!'" 205

Additional Information

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