Ethnic groups in Southeast Asia

Karen

Karen is a very large hilltribe ethnic group in North Thailand and account for almost half of the entire hilltribe people found. They live in many provinces along the western border of Thailand and also in Thailand. Tribe are the Karen from Burma and the Thai-Burmese border. In recent years they have further to Thailand to avoid political turmoil. The Padong and the famous "long neck" include the Karen group ethnic group symbolised by the narrow bronze rings, which they wear around their necks. Karen settlements are usually at a lower height as other hill-tribe - 500 m ü. m. and often are in Valley areas. Move location not often and many villages were in the same place for hundreds of years. You are adept at the weaving mill, with the women weave while the men weave large baskets for rice or cloths sarongs and clothing.

Akha

The Akha are believed to originate from southern China or Tibet. Linguistically they are Tibeto-Burman group and they refer to the Lolo tribes of Yunnan (South China). The Hani tribe in Yunnan province is very similar to the Akha. The most Akha in northern Myanmar, North Western Laos and Northern Thailand; be found that would support the view that they migrated south of Tibet and China. Various Akha groups can have their costumes and headdress with various different patterns on their coats and different shaped headdress are distinguished.
The Akha would prefer, at an altitude of about 1,000 m life. You practice shifting cultivation dry rice, cereals, vegetables, peppers and beans grow and rearing of livestock. You believe gates in all kinds of spirits and village you will find at the entrance to every Akha village on both ends which is said to protect the village from the many spirits outside. In a House, you will find the whole family with a gap between men and women. The husband is monogamous and married couples with a smaller House in addition to the large family home.

Hmong

The Hmong groups are distributed in many countries, including China, Laos, Viet Nam and Thailand and can be divided into subgroups that can be defined by their different styles and colours of clothes. To have male dominated and after the marriage the bride moves itself in the husband House that are Hmong also several women known, Hmong families. You want their villages at high altitudes of 1000-1200 m and practice verschiebenbearbeitung, long distances in search of better land move set. They grow mainly dry rice and corn and vegetables and they worship their ancestors and many other spirits. The village priests and shamans are very important in the village and its ceremonies naked agent-based of Chinese culture.

LISU

The LISU are to originate from southern China (from Tibet) before, and thought that she first came to Thailand and Myanmar about 80 years ago and can further be divided into two smaller groups. You are part of the Tibeto-Burman linguistic group and their culture is closely linked to the Chinese. At Chinese new year new year's Eve they their offers for ancestor spirits and their guardian spirit village. The women dress in stunning costumes such as colored robes with coloured stripes around the neck and upper arms.
If a LISU marries man there are to pay always a dowry for the bride, marriage is allowed only outside of the clan and they practice monogamy.

Lahu

The Lahu are believed to originated in Tibet and migrated to China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. You can further be divided into many groups and includes the Tibeto Burman linguistic group among them, the dialect of the Lahu na as standard is recognised. Lahu when translated means hunters and they are indeed great hunters, with men in the forest, sometimes for many days at a time is on the hunt. Clan did not play a large part in Lahu villages and the headman has the most makes with rules of the village is decided by consensus. The Lahu as remain mobile and if you were not the rules of a village as they move easily and find another, this is not as a problem seen, as all but an extended family considered the villages.

Yao

Yao (mien) are very similar to the Hmong and are part of the Austro-Thai linguistic group. Their culture is similar to the Chinese to celebrate the same new year's day, and they use Chinese characters to collect traditional songs and legends. Many Yao speak also Yunnan or Mandarin, they are in Guangxi, Yunnan and Guangdong Province, China, as well as Viet Nam, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand found.
Yao households are generally a large extended family and how the Hmong; Yao men may take more than a woman. In the past, the Yao were highly mobile, always in search of better land. Yao set their villages at high altitude and will be located under a different tribe. The women in needlework and embroidery, with men large silversmiths are again such as the Hmong.

KATU

The Katuic Group found primarily in Viet Nam, but also across the border of Laos in the provinces of Xekong and Savanakhet, they live in mountain regions and are part of the Mon-Khmer-Division of the Austro-Asiatic family. Women take responsibility for the budget and the education of children, and much of the agricultural work. Men are the decision makers and keep the right in the House.

Alak and Lav

Again, the part of the Mon-Khmer of branch of the Austro-Asiatic language family. You life on the mountain slopes at an altitude of 600 m. You practice slash and Agriculture and the Alak group to burn, the gap between the province of Attapeu, Salavan, Champasak and Xekong find vault in the South of Laos to the Bolaven plateau.

Alex Aziz travel and setting up tours in Southeast Asia since 2000 with plenty of experience and know of many was and from the beaten it to now spends his time between Britain and Asia. A relaxing break takes him hiking along the Ho Chi Minh trail or kayaking rivers of Laos http://www.xplore-asia.com