As an elder of the Lisu village of Dton Loong said, on being questioned about nationality, I would not like to see a Lisu nation. I do not like my own headman telling me what to do, let alone a strange Lisu man in a village I may not even know. They originated in Eastern Tibet, and the first settlers arrived in Thailand at the beginning of this century. They are mainly found in northwest Thailand, and often live in close proximity to other groups. The women wear brightly coloured costumes, consisting of a blue or green parti-coloured knee length tunic, split up the sides to the waist, with a wide black belt and blue or green pants.
Long hair is tied at the back.
Sleeves, shoulders, and cuffs are heavily embroidered with narrow, horizontal bands of blue, red, and yellow. Men wear green, pink or yellow baggy pants and a blue jacket opening vertically. The Lisu live at moderate to high altitudes, though many are now moving down into lowland areas. Their houses are built on the ground, with dirt floors and bamboo walls around a central ridge. They live as extended families, the number of bedrooms depending on the family size.