The mountain peoples in northern Thailand

Dense jungle, the sounds of the forest, here and there a little monkey or a colorful bird rustling in the leaves – the north of Thailand is mountainous and secluded. A perfect retreat for a variety of ethnic groups who have found refuge here.

The hill tribes of Thailand live in hundreds of villages scattered throughout the north of the country. Around one million people belong to the ethnic groups collectively referred to as hill tribes.

While the majority of the hill tribes live in northern Thailand, various members can still be found today in their regions of origin and other settlements in southern China as well as in northern Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos.

Their history is often marked by persecution and displacement, and by the hope of being able to peacefully maintain their own traditions amidst the green mountains.

The hill tribes of Thailand are far from being a homogeneous group. They include countless ethnic groups, such as the Karen, Lisu, Akha, Lahu, Yao (Mien), Hmong (Miao or Meo), and the Padaung (De’ang). Each group is further subdivided according to language, social affiliation, and culture.

The Padaung belong to the Kayan people, who are a subgroup of the Karen. The group originally comes from Myanmar. They fled the military regime and settled in Ban Muang Pam and other villages in Mae Hong Son Province. It is estimated that around 7,000 people belong to this group.

Also known as Kayan Lahwi, they are famous for the heavy metal rings that women wear around their necks from childhood. This pushes down their shoulders, creating the impression of a long neck. The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages and is said to be a reminder of the dragon mother, from whom the Padaung are believed to be descended according to legend. Today, the tradition is often marketed for tourism purposes.

The Lahu form a group that is native to the border region of southern China, northern Thailand, and the neighboring states of Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. Their origins lie in the Tibetan highlands. In Thailand, they have been settled since the late 19th century, primarily in the provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. The village of Ban Pha Mon is one of the Lahu settlements.

The Thai Lahu number around 60,000 people, divided into several subgroups, including the Red Lahu, the Yellow Lahu, and the Black Lahu. Their language is influenced by Tibetan and Burmese, with a variety of different dialects.

The clothing of the Lahu is particularly remarkable. The traditional attire of the women consists of black and red jackets and skirts. The men wear wide, green or blue trousers. The garments are richly decorated with trims and metallic appliqués.

Today, the Lahu are primarily farmers, cultivating rice and corn. For a long time, however, they were considered excellent hunters and warriors—a tradition that still fills them with pride today.

The Hmong have Chinese roots. In the 18th century, they were driven out of their territories by the Han and forced to migrate south due to economic and cultural repression by the Qing Dynasty. Today, many members live in Thailand’s neighboring countries and in the USA. 125,000 Hmong currently live in Thailand. The majority of Thai Hmong have settled in the provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phetchabun, and Tak.

Another group that has made its way from Myanmar to Thailand is the Palong. This group includes the ethnic groups of the Shwe, Rumai, and Di-ang. The Palong came to the mountainous north of the country in the 1980s as a result of fighting between the government and rebel groups in Myanmar.

One of the first villages founded by the Palong with the permission of the then ruler Bhumibol Adulyadej is Noh Lae in the Chiang Dao district, which still exists today. Today, around 5,000 Palong live in Thailand.

Like other hill tribes in Thailand, the various subgroups of the Palong have distinctive traditional costumes. For example, the women of the Di-ang wear silver belts with elaborate decorations. Other elements of traditional clothing include bangles made of bamboo or rattan.

The exact origin of the Lisu is unclear today. It is said that they come from southwestern China and that their roots lie in present-day Tibet and Myanmar. Due to repressive measures by Chinese rulers, they have migrated to Thailand since the early 19th century. Today, around 50,000 Lisu live in the provinces of Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Sukhothai, and other areas in the green north of Thailand.

For a long time, opium was an important source of income for many of the hill tribes in northern Thailand. In the early 19th century, poppy plants were introduced to the predecessor state of Thailand, Siam, by Chinese immigrants. The government benefited for a long time from its monopoly, which generated substantial tax revenues.

The hill tribes of Thailand cultivated opium on a large scale, especially after the end of the Second World War. Groups such as the Akha, Hmong, Lisu, Lahu, and Yao were involved in its cultivation. In Chiang Mai, the trade flourished, including with American buyers in Vietnam and the United States.

As early as the late 1950s, the government announced a ban on opium cultivation. However, it was not until the 1990s that the Thai government succeeded in effectively combating the opium fields in the hills of the country’s north.

Since the end of the opium era, the hill tribes of Thailand have primarily focused on cultivating rice, corn, and other crops. Today, tourism plays an important role in their livelihoods. In addition, young members of these ethnic groups often migrate to the cities to learn a profession and support their families in the north.

Those who travel to northern Thailand experience a completely different side of the country, distinct from the white sandy beaches of the south and the urban hustle and bustle of the capital. The villages of the hill tribes are nestled in the dense green of the forests, with ochre-colored paths winding through the jungle. Here and there, giant limestone rocks rise from the thicket. Without electricity and running water, people here lead a simple life.

In national parks such as Sri Lanna and Doi Suthep-Pui, visitors to northern Thailand can immerse themselves in a sea of tranquility and lush greenery. Visit the Bua Tong Waterfall in Sri Lanna, paddle a kayak through the park’s waters, and watch water buffalo grazing on the shore. Or take a bike or hiking tour along the terracotta-colored paths through the forests and experience the flora and fauna up close. Shy animals such as the Asiatic black bear, the sambar deer, and macaque monkeys make their home here in the vast forests and mountains.

Anyone who experiences the seclusion of this region will understand why the mountain peoples chose the hills of northern Thailand as their settlement area.

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