Hmong ((free)) May 2026

The Hmong, often classified within the broader "Miao" ethnic group in China, began migrating southward in the 18th and 19th centuries to escape Imperial Chinese persecution and land taxes. They settled in the isolated highlands of Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar, where they maintained a self-sufficient lifestyle through "slash-and-burn" agriculture, growing crops like corn, rice, and opium.

Hmong culture is deeply rooted in clan structure and oral tradition. There are eighteen major clans, and membership—determined by paternal lineage—defines one's social identity and marriage prospects. Walking in Two Worlds: Hmong End-of-Life Beliefs & Rituals The Hmong, often classified within the broader "Miao"

The Hmong are an ancient ethnic group whose history is a 4,000-year saga of migration, resilience, and cultural preservation. Originally from the fertile lowlands of the Yellow River basin in Central China, they have evolved from an agrarian society in the mountains of Southeast Asia into a global diaspora with significant communities in the United States, France, and Australia. Their history took a dramatic turn during the Vietnam War

Their history took a dramatic turn during the Vietnam War. In the 1960s, the CIA recruited Hmong men in Laos for a "Secret War" against North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao forces. When the United States withdrew in 1975, the Hmong faced severe retaliation from the new communist government. Tens of thousands fled across the Mekong River to refugee camps in Thailand, eventually resettling in Western nations. eventually resettling in Western nations.