Having visited villages in the Chiang Rai area of Northern Thailand, I've added the following photos from three different tribes. These are the Akha tribe, (which included pics from the bamboo hut I stayed in), the Karen tribe (known for their long neck women), and Lahu tribe. Each have different backgrounds and customs and each are most interesting to visit. Their lifestyles have not appeared to change from what they used to be even hundreds of years ago except that some of the villages now have electricity and running water.

Lahu villages are mostly at high altitude in the northern provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Sorn. They originated in south west China. Houses are built on high stilts with walls of bamboo or wooden planks, thatched with grass. A ladder leads to the open central living area, with a store room to one side and living quarters to the other. Their domestic animals like chicken, pigs and buffalos are kept in the basement corral.