The Yao, like the Hmong, came south from China. They were among the rebels during the Miao Rebellions against the Ming dynasty. As the Han Chinese expanded into South China, the Yao and Hmong retreated into the highlands until by the end of the 19th century, they were moving into Indo-China and Siam. The Yao women are remarkable for their embroidery. Each woman makes her own highly decorative pants, using symbolic motifs which tell stories. Their marriageability largely depends on their skill. The Yao were mainly neutral during the war, and were evaluted by the Americans as a ‘friendly force’.