They usually live along meandering streams that are found in this very mountainous region. Generally, they reside in small villages although a few live in larger towns. The Dong People come from the Tai language family. It is believed that their ancestors migrated out of present day Thailand more than 3000 years ago and settled in the lofty areas where Guizhou, Guangxi and Hunan provinces are joined together. It is divided into Northern and Southern varieties.
Every variety is divided again into three local vernaculars.
Although a very difficult language to speak due to its 15 tonal variations, the Dong language is the primary means of communication for this people. In the 1950s, the government worked out a Dong written language on the basis of the Latin alphabet. However, in 1958, Chinese authorities decided that the Dong language would not be published due to the government's desire for dominance over the minorities. The Dong are a very people-oriented community and tend to cluster by families or as clans in villages. These villages may contain anywhere from 50 to 600 families and a typical village will consist of families having only one or two surnames.