Khmu people

The Khmu or Khammu is one of the largest ethnic groups based in northern Laos. They can also be found in Burma, southwest China (especially around the province of Guizhou), Thailand, and Vietnam, where they are an officially recognized ethnic group. In the People's Republic of China, however, they are not given official recognition as a separate ethnic group, and are instead placed under the broad category undistinguished nationalities.

Geographic distribution

The Khmu (also referred to as Khamu or Kammu) were the indigenous inhabitants of northern Laos. There are more than 500,000 Khmu around the world, with populations of 450,000 in Laos, 43,000 in Vietnam, 10,000 in Thailand, 10,000 in China, and 8,000 in the United States. The Khmu of Laos reside mainly within the Luang Prabang and Xieng Khouang Provinces. The Khmu of Thailand are clustered near the Thailand-Laos border.^[1] Most Khmu villages are isolated, and only slowly receiving electricity. In many areas the Khmu live alongside the Hmong and other regional minority ethnic groups. A large number of Khmu live in Richmond, California, having come as refugees from the Vietnam War.

Language

Their language, in the Khmuic language family, is also called Khmu.

Society

The Khmu are an agricultural society, although gathering, hunting, trapping and fishing are parts of the Khmu lifestyle. Khmu crops include rice, corn, bananas, sugar cane and a variety of vegetables.^[1] Most of the agricultural work in Khmu villages is done communally, so as to combine the strength and finish the work quickly.