The Wa live in the mountainous area in the northeast of Shan State. During the British colonial domination, the Wa was hated and feared. British colonial distinguish two groups of Wa people depending on their submission to them.
The wild Wa ethnic group (Wild Wa) with customary of headhunting. They decorated the whole village by the skulls of enemies defeated, to please the spirits were protecting their fields. For years, the military “United Wa” – anti-government, consisting of about 20,000 people, is the main force of production, stockpiling and trade of opium in the Golden Triangle area, causing difficulties for the government of Myanmar.