Tai Daeng people

The Red Tai (in Vietnamese language Thái Đỏ; in Lao language Tai Daeng) are an ethnic group of Vietnam and Laos. They speak the Tai Daeng language. In Vietnam, they are called Thái Đỏ and are included in the group of the Thái people, together with the Thái Đen ("Black Tai"), Thái Trắng ("White Tai"), Phu Thai, Tày Thanh and Thái Hàng Tổng. The group of the Thái people is the third largest of the fifty-four ethnic groups recognized by the Vietnamese government.

Red Tai

Ban Phieng Ngam, a Thai Daeng (Red Thai) village, Luang Namtha Province, Laos.
Total population
165,000 (est.)
Regions with significant populations
Thailand, Vietnam, Laos
Languages
Tai Daeng, Vietnamese, Thai, others
Religion
Tai folk religion,[1] Theravada Buddhism, Christianity

Geographic distribution

• 140,000 in Vietnam (2002)^[2]
• 25,000 in Laos (1991)^[2]
• Unknown population in Thailand^[2]
• Unknown population in the United States^[2]

Population clusters

• Thanh Hóa Province of Vietnam^[3]
• Houaphanh province of Laos

Family

• Patriarchal^[3]

Religions

• Tai folk religion
• Theravada Buddhism (95.5%)^[3]
• Animism
• Christian (4.5%)^[3]