Sip Song Chau Tai

Tai Federation
Sip Song Chau Tai
French protectorate, part of French Indochina (1889–1948) Autonomous federation within the French Union (1948–50) Crown domain of the Vietnamese Emperor (1950–54)
before 17th century–1954
Flag Coat of arms
Capital		none (before 1948) Lai Châu (1948–54)
Languages		French, Vietnamese, Tai languages
Political structure		Confederation of monarchies, Protectorate
Historical era		New Imperialism
•	Established	before 17th century
•	Disestablished	1954
Currency		French Indochinese piastre
Succeeded by North Vietnam
Today part of		Vietnam

The Sip Song Chau Tai or Sipsong Chu Thai ("Twelve Tai cantons"; Vietnamese: Mười hai xứ Thái; Thai: สิบสองจุไทย or สิบสองเจ้าไท; Lao: ສິບສອງຈຸໄຕ or ສິບສອງເຈົ້າໄຕ) was a confederation of Tai Dam ("Black Tai"), Tai Dón ("White Tai") and Tai Daeng ("Red Tai") chiefdoms in the mountainous north-west of today's Vietnam, dating back at least to the 17th century.

It became an autonomous part of the French protectorate of Tonkin, and thereby of French Indochina, in 1889. In 1948, during the period of the First Indochina War, it was transformed into the Tai Federation (French: Fédération Thaï) that was recognised as an autonomous component of the French Union. In 1950 it was made a crown domain of Vietnamese emperor Bảo Đại, without being integrated into the State of Vietnam. It was dissolved after the Geneva Agreements of 1954.

The number Sip Song is Tai language for twelve, as with Thai "twelve" (12, ๑๒, สิบสอง, sip song, Thai pronunciation: [sìp sɔ̌ːŋ]). A parallel etymology with the number twelve can also be found in the place name Sip Song Panna (Xishuangbanna). Chau is land (similar to sino-Vietnamese and not to be confused with similar sounding Thai , lord) and Tai (ไต๋, Chinese ).

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