The Hmong settlement on the mountain at Doi Pui, just outside the city of Chiang Mai, includes lush and colorful hillside gardens created by the inhabitants.

Hmong women in contemplative conversation at Doi Pui

A Hmong woman displays a vibrantly colored “story cloth.” Such cloths typically depict narrative scenes from Hmong history and folklore and, though of relatively recent development, may be considered part of a larger tradition of Hmong embroidered textiles dating back to their early origins in China.

Vibrant colors and bold graphics on these Hmong handbags for sale at Doi Pui

Glimpse of a garage and dwellings at Doi Pui

Another view of the gardens at Doi Pui, with a group of visiting monks

Clothing and handbags made by the Hmong, for sale at Doi Pui

Blossoms at Doi Pui

Hmong woman at a hill tribe village in Mae Sa Valley, north of Chiang Mai

Hmong woman, Mae Sa Valley, near Chiang Mai

A proud Hmong mother with her child

And the proud mother's mother

The (grand)mother insisted I photograph her in ethnic attire, here with her daughter.

Palong hill tribe woman and some of her wares, Mae Sa Valley

Karen hill tribe people at home in their northern village. The photo on the wall is of king Rama IX as a young man.

The Karen have lived in Thailand for well over 200 years and are the most populous of the hill tribes in the country. There are two major groups: the Sgaw and the Pwo. Karen women have a well-deserved reputation as highly accomplished and skillful weavers.

Structures at a Karen village in a lush area of the northern mountains

Women of the Lawa hill tribe visiting a temple in Chiang Mai

Karen woman in the village of Ban Kariang, Mae Sa Kua, in the northern province of Mae Hong Son

A street in the village of Ban Kariang, Mae Sa Kua

Karen woman, Ban Kariang, Mae Sa Kua

Main street in the Lawa hill tribe village of Ban La Up, Mae Hong Son Province, northern Thailand

Garlic and a loom on the porch of a home in Ban La Up

In the village of Ban La Up

Wood stored for a bitter-cold winter on the mountain, Ban La Up

Lawa woman, Ban La Up

A bit of laundry drying at Ban La Up

This friendly gent came out to greet me when he saw me passing by on the street in front of his home at Ban La Up, clearly pleased to have me take his picture.

The main street, Ban La Up

Another Ban La Up resident who seemed eager to have her picture taken—and to show off her pipe

Other Ban La Up residents

And more Ban La Up residents

Dwelling at Ban La Up

Ban La Up residence

Woman selling hill tribe hats and bags at Santichon, near Pai, northern Thailand