In the narrow mountain valleys of Son La; Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces of North Vietnam the Tai remain a very noticeable and confident minority. They are divided into White Tai and Black Tai communities; while further south; by the Lao frontier in Thanh Hoa and Nghe An Provinces; Red Tai predominate.

These subgroups are distinguished by the dress of their women. Vietnam's Tai are people of the mountain valleys. Farming wet rice paddy fields they are relatively prosperous; enjoying more security and an appreciably higher standard of living than the people of the mountaintops. They are culturally confident; too; and well known throughout the north for their fine weaving and embroidery; sophisticated music and dance; as well as their business acumen in the marketplace.

Closely related to the neighbouring Lao; Thai; Shan of Burma and Dai of China's Yunnan Province; they have lived for centuries in the fertile uplands between the Truong Son and Hoang Lien ranges - certainly long before the region became part of Vietnam - and have a rich literary legacy and folklore.

One of the most successful and confident non-Kinh communities in Vietnam; the Black Tai farm rich rice paddies in the irrigated uplands of the northwest and enjoy a standard of living far superior to most other tribal peoples in the region. A high value is set on education; and the position of women; particularly in commerce; is paramount.