Iu Mien in Thailand has a history back to during the “Secret War” in Laos in an effort to block weapon trails to Vietnam, around 1975, hundreds of families sought refuge in the neighboring country – Thailand. In the next few years, thousands settled in Thailand refugee camps awaiting uncertain fate until the Thai Government granted their Thai nationality many year later. Now most of Iu Mien live in Pong District, Phayao Province.