No one had access to public education in Laos. A few rich families sent their sons to private school in the city. Females were treated as second class. Wives were considered the property of their husband. The Mien people have their own system of counting a person's age.
Every year has a Chinese name rather than a number.
The Mien language uses the same writing system as Chinese. Many Mien people also speak Laotian, Mhong and Chinese. Many Mien live closely with Mhong and Laotians. There is much contact with different nationalities, each learning from the other. The Mien people in Laos worship spirits and ancestors.