The 1995 national census of Laos listed a population of 1,344 Nguon people. The precise location of the Nguon is uncertain. According to the Language Atlas of the Pacific Area, they live directly on the Laos-Vietnam border in the Nakay District of Khammouan Province. The same book lists a total population of 2,000 Nguon in both Laos and Vietnam. The Ethnologue states the Nguon live in "west-central Laos, south of Bai Dinh."
The Nguon language is believed to be closely related to the large Muong language of Vietnam. The Muong, numbering 914,596 people in the 1989 Vietnam census, are the third largest ethnic minority in Vietnam. The majority of Muong in Vietnam live further north of the location given for the Nguon in Laos, however. The Nguon may have originally been a group of Muong who split off and migrated to a different area. Nguon is possibly a transliteration of Muong.
The Muong are believed to have come from the same historical roots as the Vietnamese people. Today the Muong language and Vietnamese are still closely related. "It is believed when the Chinese invaded Vietnam at around the start of the Christian era, the Vietnamese migrated southward into the plains. They expanded to fill all the country, while the Muong stayed in the mountains and developed as a separate ethnic group."
Nguon villages are called quei. Large rocks or markers are placed along the borders of the village to clearly define borders between families and clans.
In the past the Nguon faced constant threat from tigers and bears, but today few of these beasts remain. The Nguon even allow their livestock to roam about freely in the woods without fear of them being slaughtered. Village leaders, called lang cun, control Nguon villages. No major decision is made by the community without the agreement of the lang cun.
The majority of Nguon are animists. They worship a host of gods, deities and spirits, who they believe can bless and protect their communities. There are a few Catholics among the Muong in Vietnam, but there are no known Christians among the Nguon.
* Scripture Prayers for the Nguon in Laos.
* Little is known about the location and identity of the Nguon. Pray that more information would soon come to light.
* Pray there would soon be a strong church among the Nguon of Laos.
* Pray that Christians of other ethnic backgrounds would have a burden to take the Gospel to the Nguon.
Profile Source: Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
People Name General | Nguon |
People Name in Country | Nguon |
Population this Country | 800 |
Population all Countries | 3,100 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Mường; Nguane |
People ID | 13375 |
ROP3 Code | 107292 |
Country | Laos | ||
Region | Asia, Southeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
Persecution Rank | 22 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | Khammouan province, Nakay district Source: Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999 |
Country | Laos |
Region | Asia, Southeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
Persecution Rank | 22 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | Khammouan province, Nakay district. Source: Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999 |
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Primary Language | Nguon | |||
Language Code | nuo Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Unknown | |||
Total Languages | 2 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Nguon |
Language Code | nuo Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 2 |
Secondary Languages | |
Muong | |
People Groups | Speaking Nguon |
Primary Language: Nguon
Bible Translation Status: Translation Needed
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
100.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
0.0 %
|
Independent |
0.0 %
|
Orthodox |
0.0 %
|
Other Christian |
0.0 %
|
Protestant |
30.0 %
|
Roman Catholic |
70.0 %
|
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2021 Asia Harvest All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Profile Source | Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |