Total population | |
---|---|
22,640 (Laos 2015) [1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Laos, Vietnam | |
Languages | |
Pacoh, others | |
Religion | |
Animism |
The Pacoh are a minority ethnic group, part of the Katuic peoples.
The name Pacoh may mean 'mountaineers'. Alternate names for Pacoh are: Bo, Pako, and Van Kieu.
They live mostly in an extremely remote mountainous area of Laos, near the Vietnam border. There are approximately 17,000 Pacoh in Laos, and approximately 35,000 Pacoh worldwide.[ citation needed]
In Laos, the Pacoh live in the northern portion of Saravan Province ( Sa Mouay District) and the southern portion of Savannakhet Province ( Nong District).
Other Pacoh live in Vietnam where they are considered a part of the Ta Oi minority. In Vietnam, the Pacoh ( Khas Pakho) number approximately 15,000 (1973) and are found in the highlands of Thừa Thiên-Huế Province. [2]
Their main industry is slash-and-burn agriculture.
Most Pacoh are animists. They pray to many gods, ghosts and deities. Every village has a spirit-house on its outskirts.
Pacoh speak the Pacoh language.