Total population | |
---|---|
22,383 (Laos 2015) [1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Laos, Thailand | |
Languages | |
Lamet, Lao, Thai | |
Religion | |
Animism, Buddhism |
The Lamet people are an ethnic group in Thailand and Laos.
Lamet are also often referred to as:[ citation needed]
There are approximately 22,000 Lamet in the Louang Namtha Province, Oudomxai and Bokeo Provinces of Laos.[ citation needed] There are also approximately 100 Lamet in Thailand in the Chiang Rai and Lampang Provinces. [ citation needed]There are also 90 Lamet in the United States and 30 in France.[ citation needed] In Laos, the Lamet are a hill tribe.
The Lamet claim to be an indigenous population to northwestern Laos. [2] They are a Palaungic ethnic group.
The Lamet speak an Austroasiatic language related to Palaung and Wa. [2] Most adult males also speak Tai Yuan. [2]
The Lamet practice slash-and-burn agriculture, as well as hunting, gathering and fishing. [2] The Lamet trade with the Lao and Thai to obtain their necessaries. [2] Some Lamet also work for wages. [2]
After marriage, the newly married Lamet man moves into his wife's family home and works for her father. He then begins to make marriage payments up to a fixed amount, after which the couple either moves in with the husband's parents, or the couple makes a new household.[ citation needed]
Wealth is considered an important characteristic among male Lamet. For the Lamet, wealth is measured by one's inventory of buffalo, chimes, and bronze drums.[ citation needed]