Who are the Hill tribes of Thailand ?

The hill tribes of Thailand are ethnic minority groups that live in the mountainous areas of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son. There are 7 major hill tribe groups in Thailand: the Karen, Hmong, Akkha, Lisu, Lahu, Palaung and Yao (Mien).   Each group has their own distinct culture, customs, language, costume and religion. These ethnic minority groups migrated from Laos, China and Myanmar to settle in the highland areas of northern Thailand, hence the term ‘hill tribes’.

Lahu Hill tribe village

Background

The hill tribes traditionally practiced subsistence agriculture, using slash and burn farming methods to grow rice and crops. They were largely left to their own, living in the highlands of Northern Thailand until the 1950’s when depleted forest reserves together with poverty, opium growth and the increased risk of insurgency led the Thai government to exert more control and management over them.  The National Committee for Hill tribes was founded in 1959 with the aim to integrate the hill people into Thai society, while allowing them to preserve their culture.  This remains their policy towards the hill tribes until today.

Growing opium was a major source of income for hill tribes in Thailand, until it was outlawed in the 1960’s. This led to the creation of the Royal King’s Agricultural project which helped the hill tribes switch from opium cultivation to growing cash crops. It also taught them organic farming methods, irrigation and efficient land use techniques. Today it is considered by the global community as a showcase for success in eradicating opium growth, and replacing it with more sustainable crops.

What are the different Hill Tribe groups of Northern Thailand ?

There are around 7 major hill tribes of Thailand, the different groups are; Karen, Akha, Hmong, Mien, Lahu, Lisu and Palaung.  Each has their own unique culture, customs and language and each has their own subgroups.

1. Karen Hill tribe

The Karen are the largest hill tribe group in Thailand.  The Karen people are believed to have originated from Tibet, moving south to Myanmar and northern Thailand. Today, they live in proximity to areas alongside the Thai-Myanmar border such as; Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and some in central Thailand. To read more about the Karen Hill Tribe click here

2. Akha Hill tribe

Akha hill tribe Thailand

The Akha hill tribe originate from Tibet, the majority live in Yunnan province in south west China. However they can also be found in Laos, Myanmar and northern Thailand in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces. The Akha migrated to Thailand at the beginning of the 20th century. They have no traditional written language.

One of the best ways to learn about the Akha and their fascinating culture is through a visit to the Community Based Tourism village – Ban Lorcha located in Chiang Rai province. This is a project set up by the ngo ‘PDA’ (Population & Community Development Association) that aims to create a sustainable tourism strategy for hill tribe villages.  One of the ways of doing this, is by giving control of tourism activities to the villagers.

The Akha are a highly superstitious group, holding strong beliefs about the spirit world. Most notably, their villages are known for their unusual spirit gates which demarcate the border between the spirit world and  physical world. These gates are so sacred that, they should not be touched by humans at any cost. The Akha believe that this will disturb the spirits and bring bad luck upon the whole village. The other unique feature at the village entrance, are the almost life-sized wooden sculptures of a male and female figures that symbolise the human world.

3. Hmong Hill tribe

The Hmong hill tribe (sometimes called ‘Meo’) are the second largest hill tribe group in Thailand. They originated from China, today they can be found in large numbers in Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar. They share a lot of the same beliefs and traditions as the Han Chinese, for example – a strong belief in ancestral worship. The are mostly known for their production of hemp textiles, batik techniques and colourful embroidery. The Hmong are the most commercially astute and business savy of all the hill tribes of Thailand. As a result they are the most wealthy of the groups. Traditionally their villages can be instantly recognised by their ground level wooden houses (unlike raised stilt bamboo houses of other tribes). This could be because, they originate from the southern China where temperatures are cooler thus favouring ground level living.

4. Lawa Hill tribe

Lawa Hill tribe Thailand

The Lawa due to their long history in Thailand, have been largely absorbed into Thai society and much of their heritage lost over time. In fact there is evidence to suggest that the Lawa people inhabited the northern plateaus long before the Siamese people from central Thailand migrated up to the north. Other groups such as the; Lisu, Lahu, Hmong, Mien and Akha, who mostly reside in Chiang Rai province originate from southern China arriving in the early 20^th Century. Then there are many refugee hill tribes who fled later on, from political turmoil and communist uprisings in neighbouring Laos and Burma. To read more about the Lawa Hill Tribe click here

5. Lahu Hill tribe (Muser)

The Lahu hill tribe otherwise known as the ‘Muser’, is a Burmese word meaning ‘hunter’ because they are renowned for their superior hunting skills. There are around five main sub-groups of Lahu;

– Red Lahu
– Yellow Lahu
– Black Lahu
– White Lahu
– Lahu Sheleh

The most common group in Thailand are the Black Lahu who make up 80% of the Lahu population. They are mainly located in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. The Lahu can be recognised by their distinct traditional costume.  Lahu women wear black and red jackets and shirts whilst the men wear baggy green or blue pants.

6. Lisu Hill tribe

The Lisu hill tribe are believe to originate from Tibet, and like many other hill tribes migrated through to southern China. Today the Lisu can be found in Myanmar, India and Thailand. They make up 4.5% of the total hilltribe population in Thailand.  There are 2 subgroups of Lisu:

– The Flowery Lisu (Hua Lisu)
– The Black Lisu (He Lisu)

Most of the Lisu in Thailand are the Flowery Lisu . The women of this group wear multi-coloured knee length tunics of red, blue or green with a wide black belt and blue or black pants.  Lisu men wear baggy pants and shirts made of felt with long sleeves and an inside lining.  Silver buttons are sewn on the shirt, the more the better. They also wear a red sash around the waist and a shoulder bag. As with most of the other hill tribes, the Lisu have no written language of their own.  Over the years Christian missionaries helped them to romanise their language, using the English alphabet to transliterate the sounds. As a result a large majority of Lisu’s today are Christian, practicing traditional beliefs in animism and ancestral worship in parallel.

7. Palaung  Hill tribe

Palaung Hill tribe – Doi Angkhang

The Palaung are the most recent hill tribe to settle in Thailand. Originating from Tibet, the Palaung in Thailand today have moved from Myanmar, fleeing persecution from the Burmese military. The main group in Thailand are the Pale or Silver Palaung.  Traditional female dress is very distinctive, and includes a bright red skirt, worn like a sarong. They also wear silver hoops around their waist which is believed to be a form of protection. Tradtionally, they have practiced a mixture of Animism and Buddhism. However today some have converted to Christianity.

One of the most famous Palaung villages in northern Thailand is Ban Khop Dong in Doi Angkhang. It’s location along the Thai- Myanmar border, means that the Doi Angkhang mountain range has a lot of Palaung settled there.

Beliefs

The majority of the hill tribes in Thailand practice animism- a belief in the spirit world. They take great care not to offend spirits and practice spirit offering festivals. Over the years as missionaries travelled through Thailand many were converted to Christianity, and through integration into mainstream-Thai society many were converted to Buddhism. Nowadays, it is common to find hill tribes that still maintain their spirit beliefs but have also adopted Christianity or Buddhism in parallel.

Language

Most hill tribes have no written language of their own so their history, culture and customs are poorly documented. Groups which have been influenced by Chinese culture such as the Hmong use Chinese script to record songs and stories. Other groups such as the Karen have had their language transliterated using the Roman alphabet by missionaries.

Handicrafts

The hill tribes of Thailand are highly skilled at dyeing and weaving cotton to create beautiful textiles that can be made into clothes, scarves and bags. Groups such as the Karen are known for their  silversmithing skills, and Karen silver jewellery is a popular export product of Chiang Mai.  Many of these colourful handicrafts are sold in markets in Chiang Mai, and are popular souvenirs for tourists,  providing important supplemental income for hill tribes.

Palaung Hill tribe weaving cotton

Conclusion

The hill tribes of Northern Thailand are ethnic minorities who have lived in the region for generations. Each tribe has its own unique traditions, language, culture and handicrafts.  They offer visitors a glimpse into Thailand’s cultural diversity and ethnographic history. Visiting these villages responsibly helps sustain local livelihoods and preserves traditional ways of life. By choosing ethical tours and supporting community-based tourism, travelers can enjoy authentic cultural encounters while ensuring the benefits of tourism reach the hill tribe communities directly.

Useful Links

Hilltribe Wikipedia

Facts and Details: Hilltribes of Thailand