The Thai A Thai village. The Thai have a population of more than 1,000,000 living in the provinces of Lai Chau, Son La, Hoa Binh and Nghe An. The Thai have other names such as Tay, Tay Dam, Tay Khao, Tay Muoi, Tay Thanh, Hang Tong and Pu Thay. The Thai language belongs to the Tay-Thai Group. The Thai are experienced in consolidating edges, digging canals and building frames to carry gutters to convey water to the fields.
Wet rice is their staple food, especially sticky rice.
The Thai also cultivate rice, secondary crops and other trees on burnt-over land. Each family breeds cattle and poultry, makes wattle bamboo articles, weaves cloths and some families have developed ceramics. Thai brocade is very well-known with unique, colourful and durable motifs. In recent decades, Thai men have adopted the Kinh's style of dress, while Thai women retain their traditional clothes including short vests, long black skirts, scarves and ornaments. The Thai live in houses on stilts.