Hilltribes of Northern Thailand

by Heng Wah, Jun 10, 2002 | Destinations: Thailand / Chiang Mai
Northern Thailand is lush hill country. Chiang Mai, the largest city in the north, is the perfect base for exploring the northern hills. The nearby hills are home to six distinct hilltribes. The Akha, Karen, Lisu, Yao, Hmong and Lahu each have their own language and culture. These 540000 tribal people lead remote lives and are often considered outsiders among the Thai. Many of the villages have limited electricity and no indoor plumbing; homes are made of bamboo and thatched roofs. Most tribesmen depend on farming for their livelihood, and villages migrate between the steep hills of China, Thailand, Burma, Laos and Vietnam whenever the soil at their present location is depleted.

Northern Thailand is lush hill country. Chiang Mai, the largest city in the north, is the perfect base for exploring the northern hills. The nearby hills are home to six distinct hilltribes. The Akha, Karen, Lisu, Yao, Hmong and Lahu each have their own language and culture. These 540000 tribal people lead remote lives and are often considered outsiders among the Thai. Many of the villages have limited electricity and no indoor plumbing; homes are made of bamboo and thatched roofs. Most tribesmen depend on farming for their livelihood, and villages migrate between the steep hills of China, Thailand, Burma, Laos and Vietnam whenever the soil at their present location is depleted.

Northern Thailand is lush hill country. Chiang Mai, the largest city in the north, is the perfect base for exploring the northern hills. The nearby hills are home to six distinct hilltribes. The Akha, Karen, Lisu, Yao, Hmong and Lahu each have their own language and culture. These 540000 tribal people lead remote lives and are often considered outsiders among the Thai. Many of the villages have limited electricity and no indoor plumbing; homes are made of bamboo and thatched roofs. Most tribesmen depend on farming for their livelihood, and villages migrate between the steep hills of China, Thailand, Burma, Laos and Vietnam whenever the soil at their present location is depleted.
The Hmong , even more than the other tribes, practice a strict male-female division of labor. One custom that especially illustrates this is that of giving a newborn boy a gift of metal from which he will one they forge a weapon. Girls are taught basic skills like cooking and knitting from a young age.
This tribe is easily recognized by the black caps covered with silver coins, worn by the women.
Some Hmong children dressed in their traditional to pose with tourists. Each pose costs 20 Baht.

A story told with photos.

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