The Lahu speak a Sino-Tibetan
language, of the Tibeto-Burmese language group. Specifically, it is in
the Yi or Lolo branch of the language family. There are
three main subgroups in Vietnam, each with their own dialect: the La Hu Su
(Yellow Lahu) La Hu Na (Black Lahu) and La Hu Phung (White Lahu). The standard
dialect, which is used to communicate between subgroups, is usually Black
Lahu. In fact, in some highland areas Black Lahu is used as a trade
language by other (non-Lahu) people groups. Their language is a completely different language group from Vietnamese,
which is of the Mon-Khmer group.
It is closely related to the Akha (Hani) language,
linguistically, though the two are not mutually intelligible.
