The Katu in Laos live in Sekong Province along the upper Sekong River and in the highland basin of the Song Boung river watershed along the border with Vietnam's Quảng Nam Province and Huế city.

Within Vietnam, Katu people are indigenous groups recognized by the Vietnamese government and they almost live in the provinces of Thừa Thiên–Huế, Quảng Nam, and Da Nang city.

Traditional Katu homes are on stilts and those who live on the Laotian border are known for growing jute and weaving.

[citation needed] Some 15,000 Katu in Thừa Thiên–Huế speak Phuong, a Katuic dialect often recognized as a separate language.

Dr Tho Alang (Alăng Thớ) is recognized as the first Katu people gained a Doctor of Philosophy (in Management) from the RMIT University (Australia).