People of Hmong Heritage

Hmong people lived primarily in the mountainous areas shared by China, Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos. Most Hmong who live in the United States (US) originate from Laos, a country with a population of more than 7.8 million, where only 9.2% identify as Hmong. Hmong people began immigrating to the US and other countries in 1975 following the Vietnam War. These refugees originated from the mountainous regions of Laos, where they had fought alongside the CIA during the “secret war” in Laos. Many Hmong immigrants in the US carry the scars of war, including bullet and shrapnel wounds, and the enduring effects of exposure to biological warfare, which they referred to as “yellow rain.” In 2004, the final refugee settlement in Thailand was shut down and 15,000 new immigrants were relocated to the US. When immigrating to the US, many Hmong experienced culture shock in a world that was completely unfamiliar to them. Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide are prevalent in this population. More recent immigrants have received some education and have been exposed to the modern world. This aggregate profile may not fit well-acculturated Hmong individuals in the US based on length of time in the US and the diverse characteristics of culture.