The purposes of this research were; 1) to study the background of Thaiyoy ethnic groups in Akat Umnouy district, Sakonnakhon Province 2) to study the way of life of Thaiyoy folks related to Buddhsim in Akat Umnouy district, Sakonnakhon Province and 3) to analyze the way of life of Thaiyoy folks in Akat Umnouy district, Sakonnakhon Province towards Buddhism. This research was the qualitative research by collecting the data from the interview and documents. The key informants were the Buddhist monks and the Akat folks in Akat Umnouy district. The data were analyzed by using the descriptive analysis.

The results of the research are found that 1) Thaiyoy folks are the ethnic groups who have the long chronicle of migration from Homtoaw village, the Laos country to be located in Moung Rimyam village in 2390 B.E. In the period of King Rama 2, the cause of migration was due to the requirement of searching for the location of earn living and to migrate with consent, not to be defeated or dispelled by migrating across Khong River by relying on Songkram River and Yam River respectively and then came to be located in the territory of Moung Rimyam village. At the present, this village is in Akat Umnouy district and some migrated to the West of Akat Umnouy district and entered to live In Vanonnivas district. Thaiyoy folks entered to live in Moung Rimyam village that the village was located between Sakonnakhon and Nakhonphanom Province (the cause of calling Rimyam Village because of Yam Canal flowing) this vicinity is fertile appropriate for planting and this area makes the a lot of citizens from the other places entering to live by relying on the river as the way for transportation. At the present, the Thaiyoy folks are located in the territory of Akat Umnouy district and Vanonnivas.

2) Thaiyoy folks are one tribe who migrate from the left bank of Khong River. The Thaiyoy folks’ beliefs were transmitted from Buddhism and Brahmanism including other religions such as the ghost religion (worship cults-spiritualism) and in the same time, the religious rituals and fatalism used to be worshiped such as to take vows etc. It can be seen that the constructive planning for building the temple begins from constructing the intermediary temple, Tung temple, Chomjaeng temple, Traibhoom temple, Sriphonmuang temple and Udomratanaram temple respectively. Thaiyoy folks nourish Buddhism in order to develop 4 aspects, that is, 1) the aspect of the religious teaching 2) the aspect of the religious personnel, 3) the religious materials, 4) the aspect of the religious rituals. Thaiyoy folks apply the Buddha’s teaching for the spiritual refuge including the habitual love of peace, not to be violent, to know how to judge other people’s feeling by one’s own, less crime. Thaiyoy folks live with happiness.

3) It was found that the present, the modern society has been widespread into the village, it makes the early tradition begins to be vanished because people in society focus on the lifestyle, to earn living in accordance with the capitalism. The tradition is related to the life, that is, the Thaiyoy folks’ tradition in Akat village is still maintained as practice such as the birth tradition by binding the alms, being ordained by blessing ceremony for longevity of life, to be married by auspicious ceremony and the death by chanting and making merit to be devoted to the death or funeral  or burning or collecting the bolds. From the data as seen that every tradition as mentioned is still practiced until the present because the majority of people practice in accordance with traditions. Some who have done that they feel happy and the others have done in order to be auspicious life. In Thaiyoy ethnic groups, they are diligent in working and they earn living economically. They have the features of their own cultures. Those Thaiyoy folks believe in Buddhism. It plays an influence on the lifestyles and makes change in living and to combine with the way of culture. Thaiyoy folks in Akat village still have the dominant characteristics as the identity and various qualities of the former ethnics’ heritage.

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