Mon people

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The Mon are an ancient Southeast Asian people who mainly live in Myanmar (Burma), especially in Mon State, as well as in Kayin and Kayah states and the Irrawaddy Delta. They also have communities in Thailand and smaller groups in Laos, the United States, Canada and other countries. Today there are about 2.6 million Mon people worldwide, with most in Myanmar and a large minority in Thailand.

Language and writing
The Mon speak the Mon language, which is part of the Monic group of the Austroasiatic language family. The Mon writing system was one of the region’s earliest scripts and helped shape other Southeast Asian scripts, including those used in Thailand and Burma. The language has influenced many other languages in the area, and Mon dialects spoken in Thailand and Myanmar can understand each other.

History and influence
The Mon are among the first people to have lived in mainland Southeast Asia. They helped spread Theravada Buddhism across the region. The Mon founded early civilizations in what are now Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. They built cities and kingdoms, and their culture and ideas spread far and wide.

In Myanmar, the Mon founded the Hanthawaddy Kingdom in the Delta region and played a major role in early Burmese history. Over centuries, Myanmar’s kings often conflicted with and controlled the Mon, leading many Mon to migrate to Siam (Thailand) and other nearby lands. In the 19th and 20th centuries, British rule in Burma helped some Mon communities survive, while others fled to Thailand and beyond. Mon National Day is celebrated to remember the old Mon kingdom in Pegu (Bago).

Today, the Mon in Myanmar are a major ethnic group, while in Thailand they are a well-established minority. Some Mon from Burma became part of the Thai royal and political world, and Mon communities in Thailand have kept their traditions alive.

Culture, religion and daily life
Most Mon people practice Theravada Buddhism, often blended with Mon folk beliefs. The Mon symbol is the hongsa, a mythological water bird. Traditional Mon clothing varies: Mon women famously wear a shawl-like garment called Sbai (Yat Toot), while Mon men in Myanmar wear outfits similar to other Burmese people, and Mon communities in Thailand wear Thai-style clothes.

Mon arts include unique musical instruments like the crocodile xylophone (kyam), gong sets, the la gyan hsaing, and the saung harp. Mon pottery has a long history in Thailand, especially in places like Koh Kret and Nakhon Sawan. Floral umbrellas and festival dances are important parts of Mon culture. Mon literature includes chronicles, songs, and legends that tell the history of their kingdoms and heroes.

Culinary traditions and festivals
Mon cuisine has influenced Burmese and central Thai cooking. Traditional Mon dishes include rice dishes served with special waters and cooled flavors, as well as fermented seasonings used in many dishes. Festivals such as the Luknoo and the Mon Floating Boat Festival are important community events, featuring music, dance, food, and ceremonies. Other Mon festivals occur around Songkran time, with local customs and performances that honor Mon heritage.

Heritage and modern life
UNESCO recognizes some Mon cultural practices as part of the region’s intangible heritage, including traditional games played by Mon children. Today, many Mon people still work to preserve their language, crafts and customs while engaging with broader Burmese and Thai society. In Myanmar, political and ethnic tensions have led to ongoing calls for regional self-determination, while Mon communities abroad maintain their links to Mon history and culture.