Laotian Americans

Laotian Americans are people in the United States who have their roots in Laos. They are part of the larger group known as Asian Americans. Most Laotian Americans came to the U.S. during the late 1970s and 1980s. They were refugees who left Laos because of the warfare and disruption in the 1970s. Many of them first lived in refugee camps in Thailand before moving to America.

In the U.S. Census, the term "Laotian American" mainly refers to people of ethnic Lao background. It does not usually include people from other ethnic groups in Laos, such as the Hmong. These refugees brought their rich culture and traditions with them, adding to the diversity of the United States. Today, Laotian Americans continue to honor their heritage while also being part of American society.

History

Laotian immigration to the United States began shortly after the Vietnam War. Many people came to the U.S. as refugees when a new government took control in Laos in 1975. By 1980, about 47,683 Laotian people were living in the U.S. This number grew quickly during the 1980s to around 147,375 by 1990. The population kept growing, reaching 167,792 by 2000 and almost 240,532 by 2008. This group includes the Hmong, a tribe from the mountains of Laos.

Demographics

The largest groups of Laotian Americans live in states like California, Texas, and Minnesota. Many Laotian Americans settled in the United States after leaving Laos in the 1970s during a time of war. Today, you can find Laotian communities in many cities, such as the Seattle metropolitan area, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Minneapolis – Saint Paul area. These communities help keep Laotian culture and traditions alive in America.

Community and social issues

Laotian Americans have faced some challenges over the years. In the past, many lived below the poverty line, but recent data shows this number has been going down.

Some Laotian American youth have been involved in gangs, especially in places like West Valley City, Utah and California. However, these issues have lessened over time.

Even though many Laotian American families earn good money each year, the amount each person earns on average has been lower than the national average. Also, a large number of Laotian American students have not finished high school.

Culture

Religion

Main article: Buddhism in Laos

See also: Religion in Laos

Most people from Laos practice Buddhism, which is the main religion there. Lao Buddhists follow Theravada Buddhism and often respect older beliefs about spirits in nature and ancestors. Besides Buddhism, there are also some Christians in Laos, including groups like the Lao Evangelical Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the Roman Catholic Church.

Theravada Buddhist Temple

Many Laotian-American communities have built Buddhist temples, called vat or wat. These temples grow and get beautiful decorations over time. Some well-known temples include Wat Lao Buddhavong near Washington, D.C.; Wat Lao Buddharam in San Diego, California; Wat Lao in Minnesota; and others in Ohio, Washington, Connecticut, Louisiana, and Massachusetts. As Laotian communities spread, they build temples in many different places.

Representation in media

Lao Roots Magazine was one of the first national publications for Laotian-Americans, starting in 2007. It was made for younger people in the community and was published in San Diego. After it stopped, a former staff member created LaoAmericans.com, an online magazine that continues to share stories about Laotian-American people.

The documentary film The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) tells the story of a family who had to leave Laos after difficult times during the Vietnam War. The film was made over many years and was nominated for an Oscar.

The animated TV show King of the Hill included several Laotian-American characters, such as Kahn Souphanousinphone, voiced by Toby Huss and later Ronny Chieng, and other family members voiced by different actors.

Two brothers from San Diego, California, Krysada and Kennedy Phounsiri, became famous for breakdancing on America's Got Talent and now perform in Las Vegas.

Sports

Laotian Americans have done well in many sports, doing great at school, country, and world levels. Even if they aren’t famous to most people in the U.S., they are important leaders in sports for Laotian Americans. Many of these athletes have parents from Laos and other backgrounds.

Khan Malaythong was probably the first Laotian American to compete for the U.S. in the Olympic games. He was on the U.S. badminton team for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Phoothaphone “Ko” Chandetka is a well-known body builder of Laotian background. He has been competing for over twenty years and won his first big title in 1991. He even competed in a major contest in 2016.

Some Laotian American football players have played for top U.S. college teams. Scott Phaydavong may have been the first Laotian American to play professional football when he joined a team in Germany in 2009. Malachi Moore was chosen by a professional team in 2025.

Angelina Messina, a swimmer with both Laotian and Italian heritage, tried out for the U.S. Olympic team in 2020 when she was only sixteen. She was the first known Laotian American to make the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.

Starting in 2020, Laos began letting foreign athletes with Lao family history play for Laos in international contests. In 2023, several Laotian American athletes competed for Laos, and one won medals in wrestling.

Notable people

This section lists some well-known Laotian Americans. These people have made important contributions in many different areas.

Some famous Laotian Americans include:

• Samad Bounthong, a soccer player
• Chloe Dao, who won a season of the show Project Runway
• Mattie Do, the first female film director from Laos
• Ariana Dirkzwager, a swimmer
• TC Huo, a writer
• Steven Insixiengmay, another swimmer
• Jujubee, a drag queen and TV personality
• Xaykham "Xay" Rexford Khamsyvoravong, the first Laotian American mayor of Newport, Rhode Island
• Channapha Khamvongsa, who works with Legacies of War
• Malichansouk Kouanchao, an artist
• Tina Maharath, a state senator in Ohio
• Khan Malaythong, a badminton player who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics
• Malachi Moore, a football player
• Justin Phongsavanh, who won a bronze medal in javelin at the 2020 Paralympic Games
• Krysada Panusith Phounsiri, a poet and engineer
• Thavisouk Phrasavath, a director with awards from Oscar and Emmy
• Chanida Phaengdara Potter, a writer and community activist
• Nor Sanavongsay, an artist and app developer
• Walter Sarnoi Oupathana, a professional boxer
• Andre Soukhamthath, a mixed martial artist in the Ultimate Fighting Championship
• Tate Southisene, a baseball player
• Cy Thao, a former state representative in Minnesota
• Nate Valcarcel, a football player
• Catzie Vilayphonh, a spoken word poet
• Kulap Vilaysack, an actress, comedian, and podcaster
• Saymoukda Vongsay, a writer
• Izaac Wang, an actor known for films like Good Boys and Raya and the Last Dragon
• Bryan Thao Worra, a writer
• Joe Bee Xiong, a former city councilor in Wisconsin

In fiction

The Souphanousinphone family appears in the animated series King of the Hill.