Tai Neua In USA

Have you heard about Tai Neua in USA? Have you heard about Tai Neua-American?  

In August 6-21, 2011, I had a good opportunity to visit my relatives in USA. I spent time with my relative there for 2 weeks. I stayed at the house of my mother’s sister and brother and also with my grandparents.

Environment

In August, it is a season called spring. The environment is hot and humid as Laos, especially in WC, New York and Chicago.

There are lots of green trees in this season. Some days are hot and some days are a little bit cold and sometimes it rains.

The environment, especially in Rockford, Illinoi is calm. There are not lots of houses and cars. There are lots of lands and spaces.

Looking at houses, especially buildings in the city are old.

Life of Tai Neua People In USA

Life of Tai Neua in USA is different from Laos. They are more private than Tai Neua in Laos.

Looking at outside, all of Tai Neua people in USA seem to be comfortable and happy. They all have a nice house and fancy car. They don’t need to walk.

In addition, they have lots of comfortable things inside their house like washing machine, TV, Video, etc. for using.

However, they are busy. Their life relies on their job. Some of them work at the day time and some work at night. Some don’t even have time for their family and their children.

Without a job, their life faces a lot of difficulties such as no money for living and pay tax, especially pay for medical care which is very expensive. In USA, buying every things are deducted for tax.

They only have free time on the weekend which they will stay at home or have a small party at some of friend’s house.


Friendship And Love

One good thing I was impressive at is all of Tai Neua people seem to have  good solidarity and love each other.

What Language They Speak

Most of adults or elders in USA are still speaking Tai Neua language when they communicate with each other including some of Tai Neua young people.

However, some of Tai Neua young people only speak English and sometimes they speak mixed between English and Tai Neua.

Especially children don’t speak Tai Neua at all. Moreover some of them don’t even understand Tai Neua language.

Tai Neua Meals In USA

Most of them still have rice and Tai Neua dishes, especially elders or adult. But children or young people have American food like MC for instance.

Tai Neua Family in USA

Most of new families have only two children. Some have a boy and a girl and some have both boys and girls.

Education

Tai Neua in USA has high education. The family encourages their son or daughter getting high education as high as possible. There are some of them getting Master degree and have a great job as well.

Tai Neua Culture In USA

Most of them still believe in Buddhism. They have Buddhist temple as a place to make merit and perform Buddhist ceremony including Tradition and Culture like Buddhist lent, Khao Wa Sa for instance.

In addition, they still respect Ancestors and make merit for them as belief and make Baci-ceremony for instance.

What You Think!

Many people said that life in USA is very comfortable and happy but wait a minute! I agree with that but not all of them. What do you think?

Khong Sip Si

Tai Neua has also Khong Sip Si. Khong Sip Si is a long with Heed Sip Song which we always heard from elders ‘Heed Sip Song Khong Sip Si’. Khong Sip Si is a rule for practice which is related to Buddhism. There is Khong Sip Si for both common people and leaders. There are 14 rules as follow:

Khong Sip Si (for the people, especially women)

1. When the crops are ready, we celebrate and let the Pras and the elderly people eat first.

2. Merchants are forbidden to fix their scales. The scales they use to buy and sell must be accurate. They cannot cheat customers. They must speak politely to people.

3. We must help each other build fences around the Wat, build spirit houses in the four corners of the yard, and build a spirit house inside the house to welcome the Theravada.

4. We must wash our feet before we step inside the house.

5. On Van Sin (Buddha’s Day and the Day of Fasting), we pray and place flowers on the three legs of the stove, on ladders and stairs, and on the door. We thank those things and the people who made them for being part of our lives.

6. We must wash our feet before we go to bed.

7. On Van Sin each woman must bring five or eight pairs ofcandles and flowers and put them by her husband’s feet onthe bed. She must use her hair to clean his feet, and ask for forgiveness.

8. On Van Sin Dap, Sin Pang (waxing and waning days), we invite the Pras to Vai Pra in our house and have a house festival.

9. We get up early in the morning and wait for the Pras on the street with hot rice, fruit, and a glass or a jar of water. While we put the rice into the bowl, we kneel on our knees with bare feet and our heads down. We have to be careful not to let our hand touch the alm bowl. While carrying food to the Pras, itis forbidden to carry weapons, umbrellas or babies, or to wearcloths around our heads.

10. When the Pras perform Khao Watsa and Ok Watsa, we bring flowers, candles, incense and food to the Wat.

11. When we see the Pras, we put our hands together before we talk.

12. It is forbidden to walk in the shadow of the Pras. We do not walk too close to the Pras.

13. It is forbidden to feed the Pras or the husband with leftover food.

14. It is forbidden to have sex on Van Sin, holidays, or our birthdays

Khong Sip Si (For Leaders)

1. The leaders choose and appoint the men to look over the village. The men chosen must be honest, love others and have no record of abusing other people.

2. The leaders call regular community meetings. At the meetings they talk about how to help people live in peace and care about each other.

3. On the New Year, the leaders take the Prakheo, Prabang, and the Buddha statues down and sprinkle the holy water on them. Every Wat in every village celebrates for seven days and seven nights. We also pray for the Nak or Nagas (water snakes) who take care of the water and for the Theravada who take care of the land and look over us so we will have plenty of water to grow our crops.

4. During Sung Karn Khiin, the leaders invite the Pras and parade them around the village with the holy water. The Pras sprinkle the holy water on the ground and bushes while they are walking, so the evil spirits will not harm the people.

5. During Sung Karn Khiin, the leaders tell the helpers, the police, and the villagers to bring a gift of one pair of candles, white flowers, and incense to the king to show respect. Then we walk to the Cave of the Swallows to bring the images of Buddha that are kept there to the Wat and cleanse them with holy water. Afterwards, we parade the statues to every Wat in the neighborhood and bring them back to the Cave of the Swallows.

6. During Sung Karn Lueng, the leaders tell the politicians to swear in front of the Buddha statue and the Pras that they will be an honor to the country and will not mistreat people.

7. During Leuan Tiet, the leaders feed the spirits of north, south, east, and west. They follow the Heed Sip Song and the Khong Sip Si to protect the people from evil spirits so everybody will live in peace.

8. During Leuan Pet, the leaders invite the Pras to bless every corner of the village and to venerate the eight Theravadas who watch over us from the eight corners of the sky. They also bless the fifteen last names of the Nagas, who protect our riverbeds. On the last day of Deuan Pet, the leaders shoot a gun toward the sky and throw sand and soft rocks upwards to cure people who are ill.

9. During Leuan Kao, when we celebrate Ho Khao Padap Dinh, the Feast of the Dead, the leaders tell people in the village to make rice cakes. The people bring the rice cakes to the temple to feed the ancestors who passed away a long time ago. The politicians bring the holy water to the Wat. The next day, we have the Boat Festival. At the same time, we thank the fifteen different last names of Nagas for keeping the people and the country living in peace. We offer them alcohol and food.

10. During Deuan Sip Peng, the leaders tell people to make Ho Khao Slak (rice cakes, with a jar of holy water). People give them to the Pras, then feed the ancestors who have passed away and thank the Theravada who have been looking over us and protecting us from war.

11. During Leuan Sip Et Peng, the leaders celebrate the Sim (sanctuary). They invite the Pras to bless the Sim. On the first day of the waning moon the leaders tell the people to Ly Heou Phay (put a boat made of banana trees and carrying lit candles in the water) in order to thank the fifteen different last names of the Nagas, because they keep the people and the country living in peace.

12. During Leuan Sip Song, Kine Ning Khum (first day in the twelfth month), the leaders tell people who live on the mountains and the lowland people to go to the capital (Luang Prabang) to see each other and to parade the king to the Boat Festival. The people feed and thank the Theravadas in the land, as well as in the sky, and the fifteen different last names of the Nagas for keeping peace in our country. At the same time, we bring flowers, incense, long and short firecrackers, drums, and animals. We celebrate for three days and three nights so that the people and the country will live in peace.

13. The leaders of the priesthood follow the Five- and Eight- Fold Path and Four Sublime States of Consciousness: Karuna, (compassion); Metta, (loving kindness); Mudita, (sympathetic joy); and Upekkha, (equanimity). They must be honest to the country and must not abuse the people.

14. The leaders must do fourteen perfect things: be wise in words, be wise in teaching, be moral, be collectors, be predictors, be brave elders, be honest to the heads of the villages and the people, be psychically wise, be honest men, be knowledgeable of the boundaries, be good rich merchants, be good herbal medicine men who know how to cure illness, be good at geography and census-taking, and be good to the Theravadas.

Today, some people still practice the Khong Sip Si. Some practice only part of it. The young generations are confused. They do not understand it whatsoever. It could be that they are not interested or they just ignore it. It is sad to see it disappear.

Do you know have any idea? Do you know any Khong Sip Si? Could you share with others?

Heed Sip Song

Tai Neua also has Heed Sip Song. One thing we can refer to is  sometimes elders will metion it 'Heed Sip Song Khong Sip Si'.  However there are not lots of Tai Neua people know what it is.

In fact, Heed Sip Song is kind of a list of yearly activity based on the ethnic calendar which is each family has to follow or perform through the year. There are 12 events as follow: 

1. In the first month, Leuan Tieng, we feed the spirits. The spirits are the ghosts of our ancestors, who take care of the water, land, sky, and forest. The Pras are invited to chant in areas where bad spirits are suspected to reside.

2. In the second month, Leuan Gni, we invite the Pras to bless the rice. In this month, people have finished harvesting their crops. Before we eat the rice, we give thanks or have a ceremony.

3. In Deuan Sam Peng, when there is a crescent moon, we celebrate the festivals Khao Chee and Ma Ka Buxa (the Roasted Rice Festival and the Festival of the Flowers).

4. In Leuan Si, we place flowers before Buddha’s statue in our homes and in the Wat. We also go to the Wat every evening during this month to listen to the Pras chant.

5. In Leuan Har, we invite the Pras to bless the cloth one day before the New Year arrives. When the sun rises the next morning we bring rice, water, and food to the Wat to give to the Pras and to the people who have morals and neither lie nor abuse. When the food has been blessed we give it to the Buddha’s spirit, to our parents, and to our husbands. We take the statues down from the Wat for people to wash. We plant grass in front of our homes and invite the Pras over to chant for seven days and seven nights. Then we feed the Pras. After feeding the Pras, we build four small spirit houses at the four corners of our yard and then put long cloths around them. We then invite monks to chant for the spirit houses. Then we use the holy cloth to surround our home for seven days and seven nights. On the seventh day, we put seven bowls full of water and invite the Pras to bless them. Then we sprinkle the holy water around the house. Also during Deuan Ha, we write five magic words on paper or on pieces of thin copper and hang them on the front door for seven days and seven nights to keep evil spirits away from our homes. The magic words are: Anu, Vevanavava, Pana, Ma-A-Au-Na-Mo, Puthagna. During the seven days and nights that the magic words hang on the doors, people are not allowed to enter or leave the house. No one inside can go out, and no one outside can come in.

6. In Leuan Hoc, we celebrate the Visakha Bouxa, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha, and Boun Bang Fay, the Fire Festival. During the full moon, we bring the cleaned statues back to the Wat and place flowers before them.

7. In Leuan Tiet, we feed the Theravada (the angels), four of whom take care of the four corners of the world and eight of whom take care of eight sides of the world.

8. In Leuan Pet, when there is a full moon, we invite the Pras to stay in the Wat at Khao Watsa (the beginning of rainy season). This occurs in the eighth Laotian month (the full moon of July). The Pras have to stay in their own Wat from July until October, or until Ok Watsa. We tell our friends to bring big homemade wax candles, food, and flowers to give to the Pras. We also go to the Wat to Fung Tham (listen to the Pras chant).

9. The ninth month coincides with the period from late August to early September. During the ninth month, Deuan Kao, we celebrate Ho Khao Padap Dinh, the Feast of the Dead. On the morning of this holiday we bring a jar of water, rice, and rice cakes to the Wat and we let the Pras bless them. We feed the Pras and the spirits of our ancestors. We put the rice and the rice cakes on the grass. Then we call the spirits to eat them. While we are calling the spirits, we drop some water on the ground so the spirits can have some water to drink.

10. In Leuan Sip Peng, the tenth month (September-October), we celebrate Ho Khao Slak. We bring fruit, rice, and rice cakes to the Wat to be blessed by the Pras. We celebrate this festival the same way as we celebrate Ho Khao Padap Dinh.

11. In Leuan Sip Et we invite the Pras to stay for Ok Watsa (the end of rainy season). Boun Ok Watsa occurs in the eleventh month (October). We feed the Pras rice, fruits and food. We also give them yellow or white robes to wear on the next Khao Watsa. We also ask them to stay for the next Khao Watsa.

12. Right after Ok Watsa until Leuan Sip Song Pang, we celebrate Boun Khan Thinh (the Money Trees Celebration). We cut a branch or some bamboo, and on it we hang money, books, pens, pencils, packs of cigarettes and other things on the tree. We then give the money tree to the Pras, so the monks will have materials for writing and money to spend on fixing the Wat. We also celebrate the national religious holiday this month. This festival is called Boun Pra Thad Luang.

Today people cannot perform as many of these rituals as they used to because they don't know what it is as well as they are not interested in Heed Sip Song. On top of that, some think this is out of date!

However different places practice Heed Sip Song different way. Sometimes the activity is also different from above mentioned. Do you know any Tai Neua Heed Sip Song? Could you share with others?

Gam Tai Neua (Tai Neua Language)

These days, some of us even speak Tai Neua, but we speak by using only Tai Neau accent. We really don’t use much real Tai Neua word.

Actually, even though Tai Neua Language, there are lots of words being similar with other languages like  Lao, Leu, etc. But there are lots of words being different from other language as well. I'll give you some of example which you can use it daily.

However, please note that even though I tried to write down here, but the accent is something difficult to make it as Tai Neua accent or the tone of Tai Neua therefore, it needs to ask Tai Neua for real accent with Tai Neua people. 

A

Arjang (behavior, character)

Aenoy (baby)

Ae mun (heart of )

Aay (Mr..)

B

C

Cheua kheua (race)

E

Ee (Miss.)

F

Faanghaay (not nice)

G

Gaa (go)

Gun (if)

Gerd (think)

Gark (big spoon)

Gan tork (hammer)
Gaep (shoe)

H

Hopo (head of group)

Hed mao keung mao kang (not completed)

Horm lone (mint)

I

Im xim (Phak ee tou)

J

Jaay (elder brother)

jin (eat)

jeng (kieng)

Jai (right, be )

Jaam touy (try on)

Je ne (tidy)

Joe (being born)

Jerng (martial art)

Jorm (accompany with)

K

Khogol (shield)

Khaem gin hor (very good)

Korm gou (pencil)

Khoy (envy)
Kin  (so, very)

L

Len nar len ta (not respect)
Louk on (child)
Laak Len (chaak ka chee)

M

Merd (finish)

Man to jaay eur (accidently)

Mo (pot)

Maak Kouy Keng (Maak See Da)

Mao aeng hor (Crazy, mental) 

Mark goui (fist)

Mark khi loung (ball)

Moi (tired)

Moi kin (so tired)

N

Naay (hate)

Naay (grandma)

Naay Nang Nar (hate)

Nung nar (naughty)

Narp te nai ga pang khao paay nar (from now on)

O

Oad (tell)

Ou (yaa, grandma)

P

Pork (peel)

Peuksanar (dull)

Phid mo po hai (having trouble with one but doing bad thing with another)

Pou (Phor Pou, grandpa)

Pik pork (go back)

Por Por ( sit)
Poy (festival)

Q

R

S

T

Toay (look)

Ted im xim (so quiet)

Ta (grandpa)

Te gone on se nun (before)

U

Un nai (this one)

V

Vote fa (support a man to be a monk)

W

Waan  (bowl)

Wone (boon. Lao)

Waayaak (disobey)

War Paed (lei)

X

Xon thii (careful thinking)

Xang (underestimate)

Xouk xark (bother)

Y

Yaapi (don’t) Yao haang (not be able to do)

Yao haang (not be able to do)

Yar pi ga (don’t go)

Yieng (elder sister)

Yar pi hed sa pork (Never do it)

Yiing (tai neua traditional song)

Z

Gam Tai Neua is one of Tai Neua identities.  As Lao proverb said “Pha Sa Bork Saad Malayaad Bork Ta Koun” (language indicates the nation and manner indicates where we are).  Without Tai Neua language, it is difficult to tell who we are and where we are from.

Therefore, we should ask and learn Tai Neua language with elders, speak Tai Neua  to each other with Tai Neua words more and more.

Again, don’t forget that WE SHOULD SPEAK TAI NEUA WITH TAI NEUA ACCENT AND ALSO WITH REAL TAI NEUA WORD.

Do you know any real Tai Neua word? Could you share with other Tai Neua?

Poy Wang Fai Tai Neua (Tai Neua Rocket Festival)

Tai Neua also has Poy Wang Fai (Rocket Festival) as other ethnic groups in Laos which is one of  other Tai Neua traditions. Poy Wang Fai (Rocket Festival) will be organized every year. Traditionally, the rocket festival is the sixth Lunar month ceremony that Lao people have conducted  for many generation(s). What is history? Why does Tai Neua people still organize Poy Wang Fai (Rocket Festival)?


Rocket Festival's History

Once upon a time, when the lord  Buddha was not yet enlightened, he had to be born and reborn to accumulate sufficient merit fitting to be the Buddha.   In one of his lives, he was born Phya Khankhaak, the Toad King.

Because of his merit making and loving kindness, all the humans and animals respected him. The news of this well-respected human king made the rain god, Phya Thaen so jealous and  humiliated.

In order to spoil the name of the Toad King, Phya Thaen did not send the rain to the earth for 8 years and 8 months.   People had no water for cultivation and consumption.  A huge number of vulnerable people and animals died.   Only the strong could survive.

 All surviving creatures on earth decided to fight Thaen for rain. The Naga King and his naga or mythical serpent troops volunteered to start the war against the god of rain.  In this battle, the Naga King and his naga or mythical serpent troops lost and they received many wounds.  After the wounds were healed, the naga and snakes' bodies became multi coloured.

Then the King of Bees and his army took over the war. The fighting took many days and  huge numbers of bees were killed.  The King of Bees and his troops met the same fate as the Naga army and their bodies became multi-coloured as well.

All other creatures were very afraid.     Finally, the Toad King decided to go to the front and he had a clever plan of three steps. The first step, he sent the termites to eat the handles of the swords of the god of rain and his army.

The second step, he sent the King of Scorpions and his troops to the sky to hide themselves in the firewood and clothing of the gods and goddesses and be ready to bite at any time. In the morning when the God of Rain and his soldiers woke up, they would be bitten when they took their firewood and when they got dressed. When they took the handles of the swords, all handles would be destroyed and broken and become useless.

The third steps, the Toad King ordered his troops to begin the fight.  Since the God of Rain's soldiers were suffered from the bites of scorpions, they were not brave enough to fight. When they took the weapons, all their weapons became useless.  The King of the Toads sat on the horse back and chased after the God of Rain.  And finally the God of Rain was captured and tied up.     The King of Toads was the winner.  They made an important treaty after they had seized the God of Rain.

The peace treaty was made.     Some articles were outlined as follow:

1. The rocket must be made to communicate between the earth people and the God of Rain. Every year, before the rainy season arrives, the earth people have to prepare the rockets and send them to the sky to remind the God of Rain to pour the rain down for ricefields and other crops.

 2. The sounds of the frogs are the signals to show that the rain has already fallen down. So when the rain arrives, the frogs have to shout out, signaling that there is plenty of rain available for rice planting.

3. Kites and the flute sounds are the means of signaling that the harvest season has arrived.  There is no longer need for rain.  When the God of Rain hears these sounds, he has to stop sending the rain and wait until he sees the rocket in the next year.

Type of Rocket

There are two types of the rockets. The first type has no tail. These are : Wangfaiphou, Wangfaiphaniang, Wangfaitalai, Wangfai dokmai, Wangfaikongkao, Wangfaima. The second type has tail and classified as four sorts as below :

1. Wangfainoi is the small rocket. It is used to check that the rain will arrive on time or not. If it goes very high up that means lucky.

 2. Wangfaihoi is the one which contained less than 12 kilos of gun powder. It was made for competition.

3. Wangfaimune is the one which contained between 12 kilos to 119 kilos of gun powder.

4. Wangfaisene is the biggest rocket which contained 120 kilos of gun powder.

Why do we prepare the rocket festival?

Poy Wang Fai (Rocket Festival)  is a very important event that we could not abandon since the early period of time.  It is also the important symbol of unity and friendship used to fight against dry weather and to request rain. 

Even though, belief in the rain god  is less now than in former times,  the Lao still respect this tradition and continue to prepare the rocket festival as one of the most significant activities that takes place before of  the season of rice cultivation. In addition to the preparation of rockets, there are some Buddhist ceremonies such as waterblessing rituals that the senior monks perform at the same event.

The Rocket festival is the only annual chance the farmers have to request rain from the   god called  Phaya Thaen. Because of the strong belief held since ancient times, when the land was dry and farmers did not have enough water for rice production. So the rocket festival were instituted..

It is the one means for human beings to communicate symbolically with the god to request rain.

Conclusion is even if the rocket festival is the old tradition, Tai Neua people are still believe because the festival made good results as follow :

        1. To promote the friendship relations among the villagers.

        2. To keep the ethnic group heritage.

        3. Describing conditions of people lives.

        4. Be confidence to gain rain from God for crops cultivation.

        5. Reduce the worries by merits and fun making.

        6. Motivate people and tourists.

        7. Better markets promotion and gain more incomes.

What do you think of Rocket Festivals? Do you know any think about Tai Neua Rocket festival?

A History Related To Tai Neua In Meuangsing And Bokeo

Archaeological evidence including stone tools found in the Nam Jook River Valley in Vieng Phoukha and cliff paintings near Nale suggest that Luang Namtha Province was inhabited as early as 6,000 years ago.

The first local written account of the province’s history appears in the Xieng Khaeng Chronicles that recount the founding of Xieng Khaeng on the banks of the Mekong River in the early 15th century by Chao Fa Dek Noi, a Tai-Lue that originated in the court of Chiang Rung.

Xieng Khaeng grew into a modest principality that later found itself under the influence of the Lanna Kingdom of Northern Thailand until the early 16th century and then become a Burmese vassal from the mid 16th to the early 19th century. Beginning in the first half of the 19th century, Xieng Khaeng fell under Siamese domination and suffered from numerous conflicts. 

In 1885 Chao Fa Silinor eventually led more than 1,000 Tai-Lue subjects to what is present day Muang Sing for both strategic military reasons and in search of more expansive agricultural land.  South of Muang Sing it appears that there were considerable population movements taking place from the 16th to the 19th century as well, in both the Nam Tha Valley and Vieng Phoukha.

In 1587 a group of 17 Tai-Yuan families arrived in the Nam Tha Valley from Chiang Saen, settling near present-day Vieng Tai Village. By 1624 Muang Houa Tha was established under the traditional Tai Muang administrative structure, ruled by 4 nobles of the Saenhansulin family.

In 1628, Pathat Phoum Phouk and Pathat Phasat were constructed as symbols of friendship and neutrality between Muang Houa Tha and Chiang Saen. The original Pathat Phoum Phouk still exists and is located south of Luang Namtha Township. The ruins of Pathat Prasat, on the other hand, are north of town near the source of the Nam Dee Stream but have almost completely disappeared. 

Vieng Phoukha was also prospering by the 17th century, with the construction of dozens of Buddhist monasteries and pagodas in the Nam Jook and Nam Fa River valleys. Evidence of what must have been a large population in Vieng Phoukha can be seen just north of the district capital, where an extensive khou vieng (earthen rampart) surrounds the ruins of sprawling Vat Mahaphot and many smaller pagodas.

Though Muang Houa Tha enjoyed peace and stability through most of the 17th century, beginning in 1709 a series of natural disasters weakened the Muang and it briefly came under the influence of the Sipsongpanna Kingdom centered in southern China. A population exodus to Muang Sing, Muang Nan (Thailand) and Muang Ngern (Sayabouli Province) ensued, eventually causing the Nam Tha Valley to become nearly completely abandoned for 155 years.

During the late 1700’s prior to the reign of Chao Fa Silinor, one of the first main population movements into Muang Sing began with a group of Tai-Lue from Xieng Khaeng, led by a woman named Nang Khemma. Nang Khemma was the widow of Xieng Khaeng’s ruler at the time and went on to commission the construction of That Xieng Teung Stupa in 1787. Today, That Xieng Teung remains highly revered by Tai-Lue Buddhists throughout the region and is believed to contain a sacred relic of the Lord Buddha.

In 1890, the Tai-Yuan returned to the Nam Tha Valley under the aegis of Chao Luangsitthisan to re-establish Muang Houa Tha. Vat Luang Korn, one of Luang Namtha’s largest, was constructed shortly thereafter in 1892. However, the newly resettled Muang Houa Tha was to enjoy its independence for only two years.

In 1894, following a meeting between the French, British and Siamese colonists, it was agreed that Muang Houa Tha would be administered by the French and the Mekong from the northern reaches of Muang Sing to Chiang Saen would serve as the border between French Indochina and British-ruled Burma.

Not long after this divide took place the first group of Tai-Dam arrived from Sip Song Chou Tai in north western Viet Nam and established Tong Jai Village on the east bank of the Nam Tha River. At about the same time the Tai-Dam arrived, migrations of Tai-Neua, Tai-Kao, Akha, Lanten, Yao and Lahu originating in Sipsongpanna, Burma and northwest Viet Nam began to migrate to the area’s fertile valleys and the forested mountains surrounding them.

By the late-1950’s following France’s withdrawal from Indochina after their defeat at Dien Bien Phu, Muang Houa Tha again found itself embroiled in conflict - this time between the US-backed Royal Lao Army and the resistance government’s communist inspired Pathet Lao forces.

On 6 May 1962, Muang Houa Tha came under control of the Pathet Lao and was renamed Luang Namtha Province, while the area between Houei Xay and Vieng Phoukha was called Houa Khong Province, nominally controlled by the Royalists until the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 1975.

Between 1975 and 1983 Houa Khong and Luang Namtha were administered as a single province and then partitioned into what is present day Luang Namtha and Bokeo.

AUTHOR TALK

Who is ‘Tai Neua’? The answer to this question is kind of mysterious. Lots of website from the internet talked about it but it seems to be limited and inadequate.

This blog will provide you ‘Thai Neua’ related information. Some of them may be from media, a study, literatures, articles, verbal, etc.  And it would be updated from time to time. Most importantly, this can be a room for sharing your thought and please kindly write to me what you know about 'Tai Neua' .

You will see other topic on the left hand side. You can read any of them as you want. 

If this blog or any subjects presented are useful for you, your work  and can contribute to create a good thing for this world, I would like to dedicate that to all of you who contribute to this blog.

I won’t talk much to waste your time. The further discussion we can talk via my personal email: ssouphon@gmail.com I’ll be happy to see you there.  

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Meuang Sing, One of Other District Where Tai Neua Lives

Have you ventured deep into the northern provinces?

If not, visiting Meuang Sing district in Luang Namtha province could be a worthwhile place to begin your tour of discovery.

Meuang Sing is a mountainous district located in the north-west of Luang Namtha province.

Close to borders with Myanmar and China, it features a number of interesting tourist attractions. It also is a nexus for the Akha ethno-cultural group.

Glorious That Xieng Tung, the pride of Meuang Sing's inhabitants.

It has many historical sites including a stupa said to contain a sacred relic of the Lord Buddha himself.

Also to be found are ancient city walls and a moat, the residence of the former Meuang Sing Chaofa Panya Xekong, a colonial French garrison and traditional Tai Lue houses.

The town also boasts a hospital founded by Dr Tom Dooley, an American doctor who was stationed here in the 1960s.

Once closely linked to the Sipsongphanna Kingdom which was centred in present day Yunnan in China, the town has been influenced over the years by Chinese, Myanmar and French occupants.

Originally constructed in the 18th century following a deliberate urban plan, you can see the old city walls and moat about 7 blocks north of the museum, and also an old rampart in the northwest part of the Sing valley.

Around the corner from the District Administration Offices you will see the old French garrison.

The garrison is now used by the Lao army and is off-limits to all but official visitors.

Across the street is the former district hospital, built in 1919.

The most important religious monument and pride of Meuang Sing’s inhabitants is the That Xieng Tung (Xieng Tung stupa).

It is believed locally that the stupa contains a relic of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha.

The stupa is located on top of a hill in That village, 5 km from the centre of town on the road towards Luang Namtha.

When the stupa was first constructed remains a mystery.

From the left of the monument is a stone stairway that leads to a sacred fountain.

If you follow the path to the right of the stupa heading downhill you might be able to spot remnants of the old moat and wall that used to surround the site.

The biggest festival of the year, Boun That Xieng Tung, is held here every year during the full moon of the 12th lunar month (usually November), on the same day as the That Luang Festival.

The festivities attract a large number of people from around the province as well as Tai Leu Buddhists.

About 2 kilometres from That Xieng Tung is the multi-tiered Namkeo waterfall that can be visited as part of a guided tour from the Meuang Sing Guide office or while travelling on the Akha Experience.

You can also visit the Pha Nheuang waterfall in the Nam Ha National Protected Area in the north of the province.

About 40km by road from Luang Namtha to Meuang Sing, it’s within range for a day trip.

If you get weary on your travels to the waterfall, you should stop for some khaosoi (noodle soup) a speciality of Meuang Sing.

The name literally means “rice cut”, as the rice noodles are made by cutting a rice pancake into thin strips.

You can see khaosoi noodles being made in any of the many Tai Lue and Tai Neua villages.

To see rice noodles in the making you might try Ban Siliheuang, a Tai Neua village located on the road to Xiengkok about 2km down the road.

Meuang Sing market is one of the best places to identify the ethnic groups in northern Laos, as people from Akha, Lue, Hmong, Yao, Tai Dam and Tai Neua villages come here to sell their fruit, vegetables, meat, non-timber forest products and handicrafts.

The best time to visit the market is in the early morning.

The market is also a great place to get to know local food such as soybean paste, waffles and the local sweet “khanom” made from sticky rice and coconut.

Above all, you should visit the Meuang Sing museum to learn about local culture and history.

It boasts an interesting collection of historically and religiously significant pieces located on its top floor.

The building was once the royal residence of the Chaofa Phanya Xekong. It is open to the public from 9am to 11:30am and from 1:30pm to 3:30pm, on Monday to Friday.

The admission fee is 5,000 kip with an additional 5,000 kip to view the Akha film.

So if the provinces are calling you, come out to Meuang Sing and take a dip into the diversity of history and culture that abounds.