There are two main divisions, the Lao Pong Dam ("Black Paunch Laos"), so-called from their habit of tattooing the body from the waist to the knees, and the Lao Pong Kao ("White Paunch Laos") who do not tattoo.
Upon the surface is coloring; red for the Bushman, with black whisker though female; white for the European type, with black tattoo patterns.