FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Mong?
Originally from China, the Mong were driven out by the Chinese to Vietnam, Laos, Burma and Thailand around the 1800s. Those who went to Laos came to the United States at the end of the Secret/Vietnam Wars in 1975.
What's the difference between the spelling "Mong" and "Hmong"?
"Mong" is the direction English translation from the word "Moob," the name Mong Leng used to reference its people. Likewise, the term "Hmong" is written in the Hmong Der word "Hmoob," which refers to the same people.
Who are Mong Leng and Hmong Der?
Mong Leng has often been called Green Mong, Mong Njua, or Blue Mong, and Hmong Der is referred to as White Hmong. These are two major Mong groups who came to the United States from Laos.
Does "Mong" refer to Mong Leng only?
No, the term refers to both Mong Leng and Hmong Der, just as these terms: "Hmong," "Hmoob," and "Moob."
Is the spelling M-o-n-g written or being used to divide our people as some have claimed?
No, Mong is written exactly as spoken in the Blue Mong language or dialect, just like the term "Hmong" as it's written in the White Hmong dialect.
Is "Hmong" the "official" term used to represent our people around the world?
No, but it's the most common term used in the West today. "Mong" is the other term being used but it's not as popular due to discrimination. In China, "Miao" (a Chinese word) is the preferred term when referring to our people.
Are these the only two known Mong groups in the world?
No, there are numerous groups living in different regions of China that do not speak the same languages we speak here in the West or Southeast Asia.
Are there more White Hmong than Blue Mong in the United States?
No one has done any research on this topic so we can only guess that there may be a few more White Hmong than Blue Mong; however, nearly two million or so of those who speak similar to us in China are mainly Blue Mong.
What is the estimated Mong* population in the world?
- United Sates: 300,000
- France: 8,000
- Canada: 1,000
- Australia: 3,438
- Burma: 3,000
- Thailand: 124,000
- Laos: 315,000
- Vietnam: 788,000
- China: 6,000,000
- World: 7.5 million
*Note: These are estimates found on Google searches and may or may not reflect the actual Mong population size to date.