Their power declined when the Thai and the Vietnamese conquered the area in the 1900's. In North Vietnam, communist rebels emerged and military regimes formed, leading to massive bloodshed. The Communist Republic of North Vietnam overtook South Vietnam in 1975. After the war, they returned to their native villages. Most of the Ta-Oy are farmers.
Rice is their staple food, but maize, manioc, sweet potatoes, beans, and tobacco are also grown.
Their productivity is dependent upon the amount of rainfall they receive. The Ta-Oy have more cash income than most of the other mountain peoples because they are skilled at hunting and taming elephants. There are also irrigation projects, new uses of agricultural machinery, and other local industries that have provided them with extra income. They also dig ponds and raise fish. The Ta-Oy live in villages, or vel .