The Pathen speak a Hmong-Mien language.  It is further categorized as Hmongic, Bunu, Pa Hng dialect.   Their language is a completely different language group from Vietnamese, which is of the Mon-Khmer group.  

The Pathen language has a fascination for linguists. While the Pathen have otherwise largely adopted Yao culture,  they speak a Western Hmong language, distantly related to the speech of the Hmong today.

Some Pathen speak Na-e (Pateng), which is possibly a different language from Pa Hng (Baheng).  It is either a Hmongic dialect, related to Baheng, or it could be a separate branch within Hmong-Mien.

     Ropal code for the Pathen language: PHA00.