The Phula came to Vietnam very early. They no doubt moved south from China, like so many of the ethnic minority peoples of Vietnam. They are mentioned in documents dating from the mid-1700s as living in the areas where they still inhabit. These old records refer to them as Pho (a name still used by one of the subgroups). The only clue to their previous migrations is the fact that some members of the people group and others with closely related languages still live in China.  The close relationship with Burma and Tibet indicates that they wandered into China from farther west.

      

 

     The history of the seven subgroups of the Phula have been similar.  But it is true that today the groups vary in costume, customs and language.