Ban Rak Thai (บ้านรักไทย) or Mae Aw แม่ออ) was settled to be a check point for controlling the jade trade . Then Mae Aw village is important for the last army camp close to Thailand in The Shan State (รัฐฉานประเทศพม่า) for controlling the jade trade along Salween River (แม่น้ำสาละวิน) or Salawin in Thai language. They took jades from northern Myanmar past Kayah state and took up river the name "Pai River (แม่น้ำปาย)" to the village named Ban Huayduer (หมู่บ้านห้วยเดื่อ) in Thailand.
When they moved Mae Aw village from its Myanmar site to Thailand, it was called New Mae Aw village. In 1983-4 the fighting ended and the Thai government renamed it Ban Rak Thai หมู่บ้านรักไทย).