The Hmong People

The Hmong (pronounced [m̥ɔ̃ŋ]), or Mong, are an Asian ethnic group of people from the mountainous regions of Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Burma. Hmong are also one of the sub-groups of the Miao ethnicity in southern China. Hmong groups began a gradual southward migration in the 18th century due to political unrest and to find more arable land.

A number of Hmong and Mong people fought against the communist-nationalist Pathet Lao during the Secret War in Laos. Hmong and Mong people were singled out for retribution when the Pathet Lao took over the Laotian government in 1975, and tens of thousands fled to Thailand seeking political asylum. Thousands of these refugees have resettled in Western countries since the late 1970s, mostly the United States but also Australia, France, French Guiana, and Canada. Others have been returned to Laos under United Nations-sponsored repatriation programs. Around 8,000 Hmong and Mong refugees remain in Thailand.

in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hmong_people