Si La people
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Vietnam, Laos | |
| Languages | |
| Vietnamese, Lao, others | |
| Religion | |
| Traditional religion, Theravada Buddhism |
The Si La (also Sila) are an ethnic group of about 1,800 people living in northern Laos and another 600 living in the Lai Chau province of northwestern Vietnam.
They speak a Tibeto-Burman language. Their primary occupation is the cultivation of cereals, augmented by hunting and foraging. One of the most distinctive Si La customs is tooth painting: men traditionally painted their teeth red, while women painted theirs black. The custom is increasingly uncommon among the younger generation.
| Austroasiatic (Vietic) | |
|---|---|
| Austroasiatic (non-Vietic) | |
| Hmong–Dao | |
| Tai–Kadai | |
| Sino-Tibetan languages | |
| Malayo-Polynesian | |
| Expatriate | |
| |
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