Tahang in Laos

The Tahang have only been reported in Laos
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

French scholar Laurent Chazee, in his 1995 book Atlas des Ethnies et des Sous-Ethnies du Laos, listed the Tahang are a distinct ethnic group in southern Laos. They live in the southern part of Pakxong District in Champasak Province.

Champasak Province has a long history. Between the 1st and 9th centuries AD it was part of the Funan and Chenla empires. Between the 10th and 13th centuries it was part of the Khmer Angkor Empire.... "Following the decline of Angkor between the 15th and late 17th centuries, it was enfolded into the Lan Xang Kingdom but then broke away to become an independent Lao kingdom at the beginning of the 18th century. The short-lived Champ-asak Kingdom had only three monarchs: Soi Sisamut (1713-37), Sainyakuman (1737-91) and Fai Na (1791-1811)." During the French colonial era, Champasak was known as Bassac or Pasak for short.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Little specific information is available on the Tahang. They speak an Eastern Mon-Khmer language, but research has yet to be done to determine its linguistic relationship with other varieties in the region. The Tahang are possibly related to the Talieng, who live further to the east.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Tahang do not consider themselves particularly religious, although their older people still observe animistic rituals.


What Are Their Needs?

Few Tahang have had any exposure to Christianity. Southern Laos has changed little in the last 100 years.


Prayer Points

Pray that southern Laos will no longer have to wait for a chance to hear the gospel.

Ask God to raise up laborers to plant churches among the Tahang.

Pray for the Tahang people to have a spiritual hunger that will send them to Jesus Christ.

Pray for persons of peace among the Tahang elders.


Scripture Prayers for the Tahang in Laos.


References

Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tahang
People Name in Country Tahang
Alternate Names Tahanag
Population this Country 500
Population all Countries 500
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 15182
ROP3 Code 109703
Country Laos
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 21  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Champasak province, Pakxong district   Source:  Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999
Country Laos
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 21  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Champasak province, Pakxong district.   Source:  Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
100.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Talieng (500 speakers)
Language Code tdf   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Talieng (500 speakers)
Language Code tdf   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Talieng

Primary Language:  Talieng

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
General Language Learning Phrasebook They Need the Bible
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2025  Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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