The earliest records of the Lahu show them living in southwestern China, where many still live.  Many began migrating southward, and by the mid-1800s they had moved to the northern part of Burma, and a few years later, some were living in  northern Thailand.  

      The Lahu in China rebelled more than 20 times throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. It is almost certainly because of harassment and persecution that some Lahu left their ancient home west of the Mekong River and migrated southeast to Vietnam.

The name Lahu means "to roast tiger meat with fire."  We could rephrase that as "Tiger Cookers."  This reputation for fearlessness was tarnished in 1890, however, when they finally surrendered to their Yi and Dai landlords in China.

 

 

     They are still considered to be a cowardly people by many other minority groups in Vietnam.  One Vietnamese name for the Lahu is Khu Xung, which means "miserable ones."  An old Lahu man said, "Ever since the defeat, the Lahu lost heart and were despised by other groups."

     The Lahu have shown signs of social breakdown, with stealing and alcoholism of epidemic proportions.  Drunken men are a common sight.  Families suffer neglect as the alcoholics destroy their own bodies.  They desperately need the transformation that only the Saviour can give.