The Mien originate from central China, somtimes referred to as 'Yao' their language is distantly related to the Hmong.  In Thailand they make up approximately 5% of the total hilltribe population.  They can mainly be found in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao and Nan province.  Mien women wear long black jackets trimmed with red pom poms.  Like the Hmong boys choose wives from outside their clan after a price has been settled for the bride.  The Hmong are polygamous and cross-cousin marriage is preferred.  The Mien are strongly influenced by Chinese culture for example they use Chinese characters to record songs, legends and the names of ancestors.  They  celebrate New Year on the same day as the Chinese and believe in ancestral worship and Taoism.