This study focused on the Hmong and the Akha, two ethnic groups in Thailand and Laos, in adapting to the mainstream culture in order to become modernized through both formal and informal education systems of the countries and of the ethnic groups, which could then change their ethnic lifestyles. The study findings revealed that the ethnic groups have their own methods of transferring knowledge to their children in their families. Children would gradually absorb the knowledge until it became a part of their culture. This type of learning is, of course, a lifelong learning, which is still being maintained. However, the external education system has affected their conventional learning because villagers view that Western knowledge would make them cleverer. Some desire to have contact with the mainstream populations, regarding traditional knowledge as worthless. Nevertheless, it was found that the ethnic groups still viewed that informal education could complement their daily life activities and could be a ladder to the formal education system. The ethnic groups tended to want change and were ready for it, although they were reluctant to lose their ethnic culture, which had enabled them to maintain their ethnic identity. External agencies should understand local knowledge and adapt to it rather than use the education system and Western lifestyles to access to the ethnic groups.