In the highland of northern Thailand, there are diverse groups of non-Tai ethnic minorities, the most well known of which are the mountain dwelling peoples or the so-called 'hill tribes'. Most of Thailand's hill tribe communities are scattered over a vast mountainous area of northern provinces as well as some other provinces in the central region, 20 provinces altogether. The six major hill tribes are as follows:

Each tribal group has its own unique characteristics and identity, which are expressed through and reflected in its diverse cultures, distinctive costumes, and ornaments, musical instruments, weaving products, weapons, and its selection of location for setting up a village, etc.
Perhaps, the easiest way to distinguish and identify these various hill tribe groups is to study their distinctive costumes.

As many hill tribe communities have become much more accessible, they have been increasingly and perhaps unavoidably exposed to external influence i.e. urban culture. This can be clearly see in the way the hill tribes particularly the young dress themselves in modern clothing such as jeans and T-shirts. Despite this. They would not be reluctant to wear their traditional costumes on any special occasion especially when they are involved in ritual ceremonies or tribal festivals.

However, the way they put on the traditional clothes might be changed or adapted, for example a modern T-shirt might go with a pair of traditional trousers or, interestingly still, a headdress could be made from a towel instead of a piece of hand-woven cloth. As for the ornaments particularly beads and silver, which are the hill tribes' trademarks, aluminum, brass and copper are sometimes used.