The Golden Triangle, where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand intersect, is steeped in history and indigenous culture. Historically this region has been well-known as a hot hub of opium planting, but now it has become an attractive tourism area in Indochina.
How to reach the Golden Triangle
This region belongs to Shan state, which is located in eastern Myanmar and has borders with countries of Laos, Thailand and China. There are some outstanding towns in the Golden Triangle that should be paid attention, including Kyaing Tong (or Keng Tung), Tachileik and Mongla.
To arrive the Golden Triangle, travelers can take a flight from Mandalay, Yangon or Heho to Tachileik or Kyaing Tong; then from Tachileik and Kyaing Tong, travelers can transfer to other areas.
What to do and visit in the Golden Triangle
Overall, there are two main activities in this region:
- Visit Burmese pagodas, monasteries and churches.
- Trek to unique hill tribe villages and explore crafts.
1. Kyaing Tong (or often called Kyaing Tung or Keng Tung) town
This is the capital city of the Golden Triangle which is bordered by China, Laos and Thailand. The city is surrounded by beautiful mountains and forests. Kyaing Tong was shut for tourists for many years due to opium trafficking. Nowadays, it rivals other regions of Myanmar offering some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
Kyaing Tong is a historical area where you are able to discover ancient Buddhist temples and other religion constructions. This is also an ideal place for trekking and exploring minorities’ cultural diversity, lifestyle and custom.
These are some interesting places travelers can visit in Kyaing Tong.
- Lonely Tree Hill (or One Tree Hill): Travelers will experience a beautiful sunset on this hill where a lone, 245-year-old Kanyin – Byu (DipterocarpusSpp) tree stands.
- Kyaing Tong Central Market: This is a bustling and colorful place, where various hill tribes converge to purchase and sell their wares. On the market, travelers can soak up the local atmosphere and capture colorful photos.
- Traditional Water Buffalo Market: This unique market is for buying and selling healthy buffaloes used for farming, transportation, getting milk and meat.
- Loi Mwe: This hill station is 33km away from Kyaing Tung. Loimwe means “misty mountain”. It is at an altitude of over 1,600 meters above see-level. It has the magnificent view and the temperate climate. This area has remained British architectural constructions, with the Catholic Church built in 1929 and many colonial buildings. Besides, in Loi Mwe, you can visit Loi Mwe lake and Four-country Friendship pagoda. The way leading to Loi Mwe passes through forests, terraced rice fields. On the way, you can stop to explore villages of the Lahu, Wa and Akha.
- Ka Bar Aye Pagoda (WatPratartJomDoi): Historical “Ka Bar Aye” Pagoda is on top of a hill with eye-catching view. Reaching here, you will pass rubber plantation and seasonal cultivation fields.
- MaHa MyatMuNi Pagoda: The Pagoda festival is held annually in November. Its space is serene that is appropriate for praying and meditation.
Besides, you can visit other famous places in Kyaung Tung, including Wat Inn Monastery, Pha Lian Monastery, Jom Kham Monastery & Pagoda, Satuyatha Thumingala Pagoda, Standing Buddha Image (or Yat Taw Mu Buddha Image), Naung Tong Lake, Roman Catholic Mission (R.C.M) Church, Golden Triangle Golf Club and Mya Shwe hot spring.
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Hill races in Kyaing Tong are really original. Travelers can meet different ethnic minorities, like the Ann (or Eng, who have a love for black teeth and tobacco chewing), Akha, Akhu, Lahu, Shan, Loi, Wa, Palaung, Kala and Lisu. You can trek to these villages and experience the life of locals. Specially, yous can meet craftsman and discover crafts of hill tribes such as weaving, pottery, Shan blacksmith or Shan traditional lacquer ware.
These are some villages near Kyaing Tong travelers can trek to.
- Pottery village Yan Gone, where you can observe the handcrafted earthen pots of Shan tribe and search for Shan pottery.
- Ho Kyin villages: It is a typical Akha race village with colorful dresses. They believe in different religions (Buddhist, Animist and Christian) and their traditional costume.
- Na Phi Phank village, where Lahu and Akha tribes live together
- MongZine (Khun Village), where you can see traditional Lahu knives made by Lahu blacksmith.
- Gon Shan village: You can see extraordinary long house in here.
- Pin Tauk: In this area, you will see silver headdress “Akha tribe”, which has rich culture and timeless tradition, “black teeth” Eng tribe and rice-distillery Shan villages.
- Kong Pack (Lahu Shee): Ascending hill to “LahuShee” village, you can admire stunning landscape and golden rice fields at over 1500 meters above sea level. Descending, you can visit Wan NoungSar “Silver Palaung” village.
- Wan Nyet – Wan Sheng: This place is near China border with beautiful landscape. You can walk round to visit wooden Monastery of the Loi over 385 years old and Wan Seng Monastery, and witness Loi (Lwe) tribe living in typical long-houses with traditional life-style.
Other villages you can choose for your trekking tours: Phata (Akha), Pang Ma Phai (Akha), Joe Phyu (Wa), Wan Lun (Shan), Ho Lup (Akha), Nang Cho (Wa), Pan Wai (Lahu) and Nant Lin Taung (Eng).
2. Tachileik (Thailand Border)
Tachileik is the border town of Myanmar with Thailand, one of the Asia highway passing through Myanmar. Around this town, you can visit Myanmar – Thailand Friendship Bridge, Shwedagon pagoda, Chinese Monastery, Ho Nam Monastery, Lang Taung Pagoda, Maha Myat Muni Monastery, Temple of the Enrobed Elephant, Wan Tong Two Dragon Monastery, Wan Pong Port, Ta-lot market, Morning market and Padaung tribe villages.
- Tachileik’s replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda – a famous gilded stupa in Yangon, grounds showcase sculptures of mythical creatures. It has statues of Buddha’s disciples flanking a large golden Buddha and stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
- Karen hill tribe (or Padaung tribe) is well-known by their long-necks. Traditionally, the woman has lengthened their neck by the way of wearing heavy brass coils, which represent beauty and tribal identity. You should be respectful as walking their village and shoot limited photos. On villages, you can purchase handicrafts from local artisans.
- The local market has various goods, from modern clothing and DVDs to crafts and thanaka – a yellowish face powder commonly used as makeup by Burmese women and girls.
- Particularly, you can take a boat on beautiful Mekong river and see the view point on the bank where the three countries actually meet.
3. Mong La (China Border)
Mongla is a Chinese border town, where has Loi villages. The scenery along the road to Mongla is fantastic with stunning landscape and mountains. From this town, you can visit the glorious Wood Monastery built over 300 years ago and set your foot to Loi villages that is rarely visited by foreigners.
About some highlights of this area, you can discover typical houses of “Tai Lue” (Lueshan) villages, Two-country Friendship Pagoda, Drug Museum, the local market, Mong Ma village the wildlife market.
Suggested Tours:
– Kyaing tong Trekking tour for 5 days – Reavel the last hidden parts of the worlds to learn about incredible stories and magnificient nature.
– Myanmar and Laos Adventure in 13 days – The tour ensure exotic and mixed experiences of the stunning sceneries with mysterious, untold stories of underground society there
– Kyaing tong Trekking tour for 5 days – Reavel the last hidden parts of the worlds to learn about incredible stories and magnificient nature.
– Myanmar and Laos Adventure in 13 days – The tour ensure exotic and mixed experiences of the stunning sceneries with mysterious, untold stories of underground society there
