Lahu Festival - Ban Hua Mae Kham - 6 August 2026

[ADV]

There's a very small Lahu festival on the afternoon/evening in this village.

The local (Burmese) Lahu invited me to come celebrate and join the dancing.

I don't have a name for the festival, but what's exciting to me is the Lahu in this remote village are not Christian.

The invite will probably reveal something very special but I have no idea how it will turn out.

I'm not feeling like posting this in the main forum festival page, but if dedicated GTR forum supporters want to ride out that way to the event, then it may (or may not) be quite a treat.

If you come, please make a big effort to be super respectful and also ask permission to take photos.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

1. The Lahu (Muser) Hill Tribe

• Name origin: "Muser" comes from a Burmese/Shan word meaning "hunter," reflecting their reputation as skilled hunters.
• Language: Tibeto-Burman, in the same linguistic family as Lisu and Akha.
• Population in Thailand: Roughly 100,000 people.
• Location: Primarily in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces, with communities also in Tak province. Their villages tend to be remote and away from main roads.
• Subgroups: Five main divisions — Black Lahu (the largest, ~80%), Red Lahu, White Lahu, Yellow Lahu, and Lahu Sheleh.
• Origins: Originally from Yunnan province in southern China. Many migrated into Myanmar and then Thailand over the past couple of centuries.
• Religion: Traditionally animist, with belief in a supreme deity (Geusha). Many have converted to Christianity (particularly Baptist) through missionary activity, and some practice Theravada Buddhism.
• Culture: Known for their independence, weaving traditions, and historically for shifting (swidden) agriculture. Some were recruited by the CIA during the Secret War in Laos and fled to Thailand afterward.

 

[ADV]

There's a very small Lahu festival on the afternoon/evening in this village.

The local (Burmese) Lahu invited me to come celebrate and join the dancing.

I don't have a name for the festival, but what's exciting to me is the Lahu in this remote village are not Christian.

The invite will probably reveal something very special but I have no idea how it will turn out.

I'm not feeling like posting this in the main forum festival page, but if dedicated GTR forum supporters want to ride out that way to the event, then it may (or may not) be quite a treat.

If you come, please make a big effort to be super respectful and also ask permission to take photos.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

1. The Lahu (Muser) Hill Tribe

• Name origin: "Muser" comes from a Burmese/Shan word meaning "hunter," reflecting their reputation as skilled hunters.
• Language: Tibeto-Burman, in the same linguistic family as Lisu and Akha.
• Population in Thailand: Roughly 100,000 people.
• Location: Primarily in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces, with communities also in Tak province. Their villages tend to be remote and away from main roads.
• Subgroups: Five main divisions — Black Lahu (the largest, ~80%), Red Lahu, White Lahu, Yellow Lahu, and Lahu Sheleh.
• Origins: Originally from Yunnan province in southern China. Many migrated into Myanmar and then Thailand over the past couple of centuries.
• Religion: Traditionally animist, with belief in a supreme deity (Geusha). Many have converted to Christianity (particularly Baptist) through missionary activity, and some practice Theravada Buddhism.
• Culture: Known for their independence, weaving traditions, and historically for shifting (swidden) agriculture. Some were recruited by the CIA during the Secret War in Laos and fled to Thailand afterward.

And....nooo...I rode Mae Sai-Chiang Rai- Ban Hua Mae Kham for dentist and dancing and there's nothing happening on arrival in HMK.

One heck of a ride through flash flooding. Just about the last to pass over landslide half way between Thoed Thai and HMK that was growing very quickly as the mud flowed like larva.

Ah well. I'm going to catch up with this Lahu fella and see where the miscommunication was.

 

[ADV]

And....nooo...I rode Mae Sai-Chiang Rai- Ban Hua Mae Kham for dentist and dancing and there's nothing happening on arrival in HMK.

One heck of a ride through flash flooding. Just about the last to pass over landslide half way between Thoed Thai and HMK that was growing very quickly as the mud flowed like larva.

Ah well. I'm going to catch up with this Lahu fella and see where the miscommunication was.
View attachment 164561

Wow the bonus on the return ride...a squid ink blue-black sky and the forest breathing out a sea of mist.

 

[ADV]

Back out in the wild west again... there's a big fat pig ready to be slaughtered and sacks of vegetables piled up.

Baby naming celebration tomorrow, so rather than night ride home I'm taking the offer of a room for the night.

See what unfolds....

There's a slow but steady flow of villagers arriving with live chickens for the pot and cookedxrice and vegetables to clean and stew.

 

[ADV]

Back out in the wild west again... there's a big fat pig ready to be slaughtered and sacks of vegetables piled up.

Baby naming celebration tomorrow, so rather than night ride home I'm taking the offer of a room for the night.

See what unfolds....
View attachment 164868

There's a slow but steady flow of villagers arriving with live chickens for the pot and cookedxrice and vegetables to clean and stew.

Slicing and dicing the pig was a communal affair.

 

[ADV]

The pig is getting ground finer and finer. Herbs added. Raw laab at this stage.

 

[ADV]

Spiritual blessings from an elder.

All present put their right hand on the table whilst words were chanted for about 5 minutes.

Then more food.

Very grateful again to this Lisu-Lahu community for inviting and treating me so kindly at their special occasions and every day life.

 

[DavidFL]

Yummy fresh food.
But aren't these Lisu people, not Lahu?
I'm confused now.