Laotian Chinese

Laotian Chinese

Total population
185,000 (est.)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Vientiane, Phonsavan, LuangPrabang, Pakse
Languages
Lao, Teochew, Cantonese, Southwestern Mandarin[2]
Religion
Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism
Related ethnic groups
Laotian Chinese American

The Laotian Chinese are an overseas Chinese community who live in Laos. At present they constitute an estimated 2% of the population. Most Laotian Chinese are descendants of older generations who moved down from the Southern China provinces from the 19th century and present.Most have ancestry from the provinces of:Yunnan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan and, Guizhou. Laotian Chinese are mostly Teochew and Cantonese, but some also speak Southwestern Mandarin from the Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan. Today in Laos, many ethnic Chinese migrants have decided to reside in Laos, making the population rise by a couple of thousands, Many ethnic Chinese were also involved in constructing the 2009 Southeast Asian Games venues held in Vientiane. During the 1970s and 1980s, after the Communist Pathet Lao came into power, some Laotian Chinese fled to Thailand and other countries. The U.S. also has a significant Laotian Chinese population (Laotian Chinese American). Many still practice certain Chinese traditions and customs ancestors ancestors did.^[3]

References

1. ^ http://www.ocac.gov.tw/english/public/public.asp?selno=1163&no=1163&level=B
2. ^ A. Doak Barnett. Communist China and Asia. Published for the Council on Foreign Relations. pp. 175. http://books.google.com/books?id=ZpEeAAAAMAAJ&pgis=1. 
3. ^ Joel Martin Halpern. The Role of the Chinese in Lao Society. Rand Corp. pp. 4. http://books.google.com/books?id=XoU1AAAAIAAJ&q=laos+thailand+teochiu&dq=laos+thailand+teochiu&lr=&pgis=1. 

External links

• Calgary Lao-Chinese Association