The Hmong people are found in many different countries. Laos, Vietnam, China, and other South East Asian countries are some of the places that the Hmong call home.
There are roughly five million Hmong living in China and scattered throughout the country. In 1975, when their country came under the control of a communist regime, many Hmong made a mass exodus and escaped to refugee camps in Thailand.
The Hmong in Laos aligned themselves with the United States during the Vietnam War and many were killed by the Vietnamese Army. Some fled to Thailand and other Hmong were relocated to the United States.
In Thailand, the Hmong make up one out of every five people and are the second largest segment of the population. Nan, Lampang, Kamphaeng Phet, Sukhothai and Loei are just a few other provinces where the Hmong are found.
The Hmong in Thailand are divided into the Blue Hmong, the White Hmong and the Gua M’ba Meo. The Blue Hmong are also known as the Black Meo and may be found west of Chiang Mai. The women of this Hmong sect wear a unique skirt or kilt with a batik design and dyed indigo. The Hmong men wear black baggy pants and embroidered jackets. The difference between the Blue and White Hmong women is that the White Hmong will wear a white pleated skirt for special ceremonies. The White Hmong are primarily settled in the east.