Laos is located in southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand and west of Vietnam. It is believed that the Lao-Soung migrated from southern China to Laos in the late eighteenth century. The population of Laos is 5.5 million people (July 2000) and 9% of the population are Lao-Soung.
Lao-Soung is one of four major ethno-linguistic groups in Laos. The Hmong, formerly called the Meo or Miao and the Man (Yao), were included in this group. They live in the hills where altitudes are 1,000 m higher than sea level. The Hmong live mainly around the Luang Prabang and Wieng Khoung Mountain areas. The population lives in villages that comprised of clans, which are parties of some households. The headman of the village has a connection of government and a council aids them. Moreover, the villages are organized for military purposes.
In Laos, about 60% of the people are Buddhist and the others are Animist. The official language is Lao but some speak French, English and other languages. The people of Laos live under the rule of a king. “Under the rule of King Setthathirath, the capital was moved from Xiengdong Xiengthong to Vientiane in 1560.” (HISTORY REVIEW) He built a venerated religious shrine. The shrine is the symbol of the Lao nation now.
Sources:
Arthur J. Dommen (A.J.D.); Freelance researcher on Laos. Agricultural Economist, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., 1980–94. Author of Laos: Keystone of Indochina.
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-52500?&query=lao-soung.html
http://www.savannanet.com/main.htm
HISTORY REVIEW: the Lao Embassy, the National Tourism Authority of Lao PDR.
http://www.laoembassy.com/discover/intro/history.htm
http://www.asiagateway.com/laos/country-guide/?c=people