Some call them Htin and some call them Lua. They wear no colorfull costume, that may be the reason why they are not on postcards like other hilltribes.

The Htin probably came to Thailand from Laos. They are called Tin, Thin, or Kha T"in by Thais. In Laos, they are called Phai or Kha Phai. However, in Thailand, they call themselves "Mal" or "Prai". This ethic group is also classified as belonging to the Mon - Khmer branch of the Austro - Asiatic linguistic family.

These tribal people originally resided in the territory of Sib Song Panna Kingdom, in Yunnan province in south - west China, before migrating into Thailand and settled their homeland at Chiang Kham and Chiang Muan over 150 years ago.

There are about 35,000 of them and almost all live in Nan Province between the Nan and the Mae Khong rivers.

The Thin houses are built on piles with bamboo floors and walls. The Thin practice Sweden agriculture. They grow glutinous rice, the staple rice of the northern Thai people.

Thins are animists. Some of them have become Buddhists, specially in villages near the Thai lowland. Some Htin villages have the Buddhist temples.

This tribe people are monogamous. After marriage, residence is initially matrilocal, in the house of the wife's parents. After the birth of several children, the couple normally move to a new dwelling.

Their beautiful sophisticated hand woven silk and cotton fabrics, are sold in their villages. At present, Thai Lue people have established their own culture center at Baan Yuan Village in Chiang Kham. The objective of this culture center is to promote craft skill training and preserve their culture which is entirely unique from those of other tribes.