The Tai Dam or Tai people originated from Northwest Vietnam in an area so beautiful it’s called Muang Then, the Land of God. According to the legend of Khun Borom, there was once a great flood that destroyed almost all of mankind. Only three worthy chiefs were lifted from the earth, and carried into the heavens to become the teachers and leaders of the new world. One day the three chiefs, and a magnificent buffalo, were dropped back into the earth. They landed in the northwestern lands of Vietnam and started to cultivate the land for rice. When the land was ready, the mighty buffalo laid down to die and from his nostrils a great, gourd laden vine grew. From those gourds emerged the Tai people and the eldest son of the chiefs, Khun Boron, became the first Tai ruler.