This research classified Lanna folktales into two categories; local folktales and short humorous tales, in order to investigate ethnic groups in the folktales. It was revealed from this investigation that the two types of folktales aim to present different goals as follows.
1. For local folktales, it was revealed that there were 20 ethnic groups with the Burmese having been mentioned the most, followed by the Lua ethnic group. These folktales focused on city legends, religions, traders, and wars. Most storylines were about the reconstruction of Chiang Mai and the Burmese Kingdom, the enemy occupying and administering the Lanna region. Furthermore, the folktales stated about ethnic diversity, roles of Lua rituals, and ethnic relationships in administration and trade.
2. Short humorous folktales were concerned about daily lifestyles and behaviors by making fun of or criticizing trickiness, stupidity, physical appearances, language, sexual discrimination, or sexual relationship. All of these emphasized stories in the social dimension.In these folktales, 16 ethnic groups were mentioned, with the Karen being mentioned in 33 tales and the Khmu in 32 tales. Other ethnic groups not found in local folktales were Hmong, Westerners, Indians, southerners, and Khmer, who migrated to the Lanna region during the development period.