The Pathen are said to have migrated to Vietnam 200-300 years ago.  One version of the story holds that they left Than Lo in China and came by sea with the Yao people.   They migrated to escape persecution, famine and oppression. 

      The Pathen say that they are descended from eight ancient clans in China.  This is supported by their name in Chinese (Ba = eight -- Then = clans).  Although small in number, the Pathen are divided into two subgroups.  They have two distinct dialects, which might actually be considered separate languages.

 

 

 

     Their homeland in China is not particularly close, being situated in southern Guizhou and northern Guangxi, nearly 200 miles from the Vietnamese border.