At present, the Ta-oi live in both Vietnam and Laos, in the latter nation where they the Ta oi mainstream population and also call themselves as Ta-oih.

Another sub-group of the Ta-Oi is called as Paco (Pa coh), which means "persons who live behind the mountains."

Judging by the family clan origin, marriage and family relationship and language, the Ba hi people who mainly lives in Hướng Hóa District, Quảng Trị Province, can be regarded as a local sub-group of the Ta-oi.

In addition to swidden cultivation, they are adept in growing cotton, weaving cloth and brocades, in sewing or fastening glass beads on costumes, and in making some musical instruments (drums, pan flutes).

The Ba hi live in valleys close to the lowland areas and are adept in trading and in wet paddy cultivation.

Thus, the Ta-oi do take into account various elements of topography, environment and economic activities in order to assess and analyze their own ethnic group and sub-groups, and their different characteristics.

Only a small number of cultural anthropologists possess any understanding about this ethnic group's belief systems.

The Ta-oi believe that the soul can integrate itself into the voice, can create a force that can exert an impact on other things.

As a precaution against this, the Ta-oi used to spread firewood ashes in front of their doors in order to identify the footprints of the soul.

Some other persons say that they could hear certain noises that show that the soul has come back, has poured water into a cup or has taken some foodstuffs out of the pot.

Thereafter, the cock is slaughtered near the Rong house and its blood is buried in the place of arrival of water.

In that very place, the pillar where is attached the village water pipe is beautifully decorated and is strengthened and repaired each year, and some chicken blood is buried there (sol rtang dak).

As and when a family household in the long house eats goat, buffalo or cow meat, it must keep giang danh informed by performing a ritual.

Of all forest wild beasts, the Ta-oi regard tigers as the most powerful animal and as a protecting spirit of the village.

When a tiger falls into the trap, the hunter and inhabitants must hold a ritual dedicated to the forest spirit, involving such offerings as sol, leo, agate beads and a “reng” cloth.

Local women and visitors from outside are not allowed to attend the ritual dedicated to the head of the tiger.

The house also contains a number of presents given by the villagers to the tiger: a bowl (for containing food), armlet, a “reng” piece of cloth, buffalo and cow horns, pig's jaw which have been prepared and contributed on the instruction of the village head.

Ka Linh, Ta Keu hamlets worshipped tigers when they were still located in Laos.

One can say that from the end of the anti-US war, such a worship no longer prevails in the Ta-oi ethnic community.

This ethnological term refers to the practice of some minority ethnic groups who are adept in using some products for inducing a girl and turning her into one's wife.