| Group: | Laotian Chams |
| Flag: | Flag of Cham people in Laos.png |
| Population: | 250–700 |
| Popplace: | Laos (Vientiane and Champasak) |
| Rels: | Sunni Islam (99%) and other religions (1%) |
| Langs: | Western Cham (native), also Laotian and Khmer |
| Related: | Chams (mainly Cambodian Chams) |
Laotian Chams are an Cham ethnic group living in Laos and holding Laotian citizenship. Most live in the Laotian capital, Vientiane, also in Champasak in southern Laos. They are the Western Cham-speakers related to the present-day Cambodian Chams.
A small number of Chams live in the Laotian capital, Vientiane,[1] also in Champasak, near the Thailand and Cambodian borders.[2] However, only a few are aware of their existence in Laos, even though a tourist book mentions them. In the notes, it is written "A small number of Muslims live in Vientiane, mostly Arab and Indian traders whose ancestors have been there since the 17th century. Vientiane is also home to a small community of Chams, Cambodian Muslims who fled Democratic Kampuchea government by Pol Pot in the 1970s. This latter community now has their own mosque in Vientiane".[3]
In fact, the relationship between the Chams and Laos has existed since the founding of the city-state of Champa, especially during the end of the Champa reign before finally being completely destroyed by Đại Việt especially in the 14th to 15th centuries and in the 17th century, where they were scattered.[4] Most of them fled to Khmer, but some also went to other places, namely to Hainan, where they now form the Utsul Muslims community, and also to Lan Xang (in present-day Laos).[3]
In historical records, between the 1st and 9th centuries, Champasak in southern Laos was part of the Funan (which influenced early Champa) and then the Chenla before falling to Khmer. Archaeological research has identified the ancient city as Shrestrapura, a 5th-century AD pre-Khmer site. The city was at one time the capital of Champa. This can be seen around the Thailand-Laos border bridge across the Mekong River. In the vicinity are several Cham villages and ruins, the most important of which is Wat Phu which is also in Champasak.[2] The Chams in southern Laos at the time of their arrival had been absorbed and assimilated by the Khmer people in the Khmer Empire.[5]
Currently in Laos there are at least 250 to 700 Chams living mainly in Vientiane.[1] [3] Almost all of them are Sunni Islam, making up more than 99% of their population.[3] However, in southern Laos and the Thai border some also practice animism and ancient Hinduism with influences of Buddhism and Islam.[2]
They are few in number and relatively poor. However, the Cham have a strong sense of identity, which is why they built their own mosques, as followers of the Shafi'i school. Azahar Mosque in Vientiane is also known as "Cambodian Mosque" or "Cham Mosque". Most of Chams those living in Vientiane today trace their origins to Muslim fishing villages along the banks of the Mekong River in Phnom Penh before fleeing in the 1970s.[6] Meanwhile, the Chams in Champasak have lived there for centuries and mingled with the Lao people.[2]
Their language is Western Cham. It is the same as the language spoken by the Chams in Cambodia. The other variety, Eastern Cham, is not spoken, or is very unlikely to be spoken. Nowadays they mostly speak Laotian.[3] In Champasak, where the Khmer influence is quite large, the Khmer is used by the Chams there.[2]