Si La people


The Si La are an ethnic group of about 3,151 people living in northern Laos and another 600 living in Lai Châu Province, Northwest region, Vietnam.

Culture

The Si La people speak a Tibeto-Burman language closely related to Hani. 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.