The What’s Up Guide to the Hill Tribe People of Northern Thailand

The upper regions of Northern and Western Thailand are home to the nation’s renowned hill tribe villages and their colourful occupants. A wander round one of the villages gives tantalising insights into the time-honoured traditions and inimitable culture of the hill tribes. Tour operators offering sightseeing tours to Fang, Doi Mae Salong, the Golden Triangle, Doi Inthanon, Doi Suthep, Pai and Mae Hong Son invariably include a stop at one of the hill tribe villages on their itineraries.

Hill tribes historically eked a living from the land and were nomadic because they tended to move on when they felt the land they were farming was losing its fertility. In modern times, moving is not such an easy proposition and hill tribes have had to stay where they are. As a result, their villages have taken on more permanent appearances.   

There are seven major hill tribe groups in Thailand plus several more subgroups with similar beliefs, traditions and dress to their particular parent group. Most of the hill tribes are descendants of pioneers who drifted into Thai territory on paths from the Yunnan region of China, Tibet and what is now Myanmar. A brief outline of each of the hill tribes found in the mountains of Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand follows.