3) The Sino-Tibetan groups, referred to as highland Lao or Lao Soung, dwell for the most part in highland areas and practice slash and burn agriculture These groups include the Akha, Lahu, Lisu, and Pounoy among others, and are recent arrivals from Southern China and form about 5% of population in the Lao PDR, residing mainly in northern areas of Laos.