Tai Don, White Tai in United States

Introduction / History

The Tai Don (White Tai) are part of the much larger group of indigenous Tai peoples. "White" Tai refers to the white traditional clothing worn by Tai Don women. Most Tai Don live in Vietnam. Smaller populations live in Laos and China.

Many tribal peoples like the Tai Don supported the South Vietnamese government and the USA during the war. They faced severe persecution once the North Vietnamese took over the country in 1975. After the Vietnam War, some Tai Don fled Vietnam and migrated to the USA hoping for a better life and to escape persecution. Most American Tai Don live in CA and New York.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Like the other peoples who came from Vietnam after the war, the Tai Don had trouble adjusting to modern, urban America. They have now adjusted and settled. Many Tai Don young people are indistinguishable from other American youth. They speak English fluently as their first language and have adopted American culture as their own. Many have graduated from universities and have professional careers in medicine, science, finance, and education. The children who came to the USA in the late 1970s have raised their own families and speak English at home. Many Tai Don young people marry outside of their people in the USA. Many children of those unions often do not learn the Tai Don language or culture.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Operation China has this to say: " They have a number of statues and altars ... to the spirit of the soil, to the tiger god, and to Tan Sin and Kouan-Yin, local heroes now deified by the White Tai. Unlike most people in this region, the Tai Don believe in a sovereign, supreme god who is active in their lives." The Tai Don are the most unreached of all the Tai groups. Many Tai Don in the USA now lead secular lives with little regard for their traditional folk religion and spiritual matters.

Only a tiny fraction of the American Tai Don claims to be followers of Jesus Christ.

What Are Their Needs?

Even though many of the Tai Don in the USA have done well financially, few have shown interest in spiritual things. The American Tai Don need to hear and respond to the good news of Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them abundant life.

Prayer Points

Pray the Lord will lead many Tai Don to himself.

Pray that believers in the USA will develop friendships with Tai Don people and share the gospel with them.

Pray the Bible will soon become available in the Tai Don language and for the people to read God's Word.

Pray the Lord raises up biblical churches among the Tai Don people in the USA and in Vietnam.

Text Source:   Joshua Project