| The Lahu have their origins in southwestern China. | | | | distinctive costumes. Women wear a black cloak |
| Around 1830 there were some Lahu villages | | | | with diagonal cream stripes. The top of the sleeve |
| located in the Kengtung State of Burma. | | | | is decorated in bold colors of red and yellow. Red |
| However, by 1870 the Lahu started moving | | | | Lahu women wear black trousers with white |
| across the northern Burmese border in fear of | | | | edging and colorful sleeves. The Thai shirt and |
| their lives from the government of Burma. The | | | | skirt have replaced the traditional costume among |
| Burmese were very cruel towards the hill tribes | | | | the other Lahu tribes. Lahu men wear a plain black |
| and not just the Lahu, but a large number of | | | | shirt and baggy black trousers |
| other hill tribes were killed by the government of | | | | The Lahu build houses on high stilts. They raise |
| Burma. By 1870, the Lahu moved into the | | | | domestic animals like buffaloes, pigs, and chickens |
| northern highlands and valleys of Thailand. | | | | in the vacant space under their homes. The Lahu |
| There are four sub tribes within the Lahu namely | | | | believe in the soul, a house spirit, nature spirits and |
| Black, Red, Yellow, and She-leh. The Black Lahu | | | | a supreme being. 30 percent of the Lahu have |
| are the most reserved, but wear the most | | | | now converted to Christianity. |