It is considered normal for Generals and Kings to have many wives in the old days. Vang Pao is a General so no surprises there.

Even today, some men in Laos have many wives, known as "mia noy". Sometimes their wife knows about it, and sometimes they don't. Men in Laos say it's easy to cheat on their wives, they just drive to the countryside and do what they have to do.

The Lao saying is that when a man does one hundred bad things, it is still not as bad as a woman doing one bad thing. Meaning when a man cheat, he still goes back home to his wife and children. But when a woman cheat, she leaves home forever with her new man.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 1^st Aug, 2010 at 12:39am:


Isn't there a mutual agreement that the 'husband' is supposed to financially support his harem of 'little wives'? Aren't they (mia noy) there just for pleasure?