THE DAO ( ZAO)

Derivatives:  "Dao Quan Trang" (wearing white trousers), "Dao Quan Chet" (wearing tight trousers), "Dao Tien" (bearing coins), "Dao Thanh Y" (Dao wearing blue dress), "Dao Do" (Red Dao), Man, Dong, Trai, Xa, Diu Mien, Lim Mien, Lu Giang, Lan Ten, Dai Ban, Tieu Ban, Col Ngang, Col Mua and Son Dau .

Population: 620,538 people (as of 1999)

Locality:  The Dao mostly live along the borders between Vietnam-China and Vietnam-Laos.

Customs and culture
The Dao worship their ancestors called Ban Ho who was believed to be a 5-colored dog.
The Dao cremate or bury the deceased.

Language: Dao language belongs to the Mong-Dao Group.

Dress:
Dao men wear trousers and vests, mostly indigo-dyed while Dao women wear vests and skirts with colorful decorations. The women attire vary from one Dao Community to another.

Economy
The Dao mainly cultivate rice for a living.