More than 80,000 ethnic Viet people live in Laos. Their population is difficult to gauge, as many of them live scattered throughout the cities and larger towns of Laos, where they are traders, factory owners, and merchants. The Viet have a reputation as skilled and aggressive businessmen, somewhat similar to the Chinese in that regard.

   One source states, “Vietnamese can be found in substantial numbers in all the provinces bordering Vietnam and in the cities of Vientiane, Savannakhet and Pakse. For the most part Vietnamese residents in Laos work as traders and small businesspeople, though there continues to be a small military presence in Xiangkhoang and Houaphan provinces.

   The 1995 Lao census did not count the Viet as a distinct ethnic group, but did mention there were 14,251 Vietnamese citizens within Laos at the time. Many of them prefer to maintain their Vietnamese citizenship while traveling in and out of Laos to conduct business. There has been a Vietnamese influence in Laos for many centuries, but only since the war in North Vietnam in the 1950’s have large numbers crossed into Laos and formed their own communities.

   By the year 2000 the population of ethnic Vietnamese will be close to 70 million. More than 1.5 million Vietnamese live in over 25 nations on six continents around the world. More than 850,000 live in the United States.

   The Vietnamese, who call themselves King or Jing, have a long history. It is generally believed they were a collction of Mon=Khmer speaking groups who occupies areas primarily in north Vietnam around the time of Christ. About 500 years ago, the Vietnamese migrated to the southern extremities of the country, destroying the Chamba Kingdom in 1471.

   Unlike the Lao, who follow the Theravada sect of Buddhism, the Viet mostly adhere to Mahayana (“Greater Vehicle”) Buddhism. They also have a complex mix of religious influence including Daoism, Animism, Caodaism and Ancestor Worship.

   About 5,000 Viet in Laos profess to be Christians, the majority of whom are Roman Catholics.

Additional Information

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