The Golden Triangle

Chiang Saen is located in the very north of Thailand – right on Thailand’s border with both Burma (Myanmar) and Laos.  This border region is the infamous “Golden Triangle” that used to be where most of the world’s heroin came from until Afghanistan took over.  The Golden Triangle is also where the Ruak River and the Mekong River meet, with the Mekong River serving as the border of Laos and Thailand and the Ruak River serving as the border between Burma and Thailand.

This picture is taken from Thailand.  On the right side of the river is Laos...on the left is Burma!

The DEA's legacy here in the Golden Triangle

The Thai tourist industry has also appropriated the term Golden Triangle for their use as a tourist attraction. The Golden Triangle we visited is a small town, mostly a tourist trap, located about 10 km from Chiang Saen.  During one visit there last Sunday we saw more white people than we’d seen the past three and a half weeks.  However, Golden Triangle is also home to an elephant research facility - we have met some of the people who work at the facility, and are planning a visit to see the elephants soon!