Akha, Yao Hilltribes, Mae Sai And Golden Triangle in English

The Akha hill tribe originate from Tibet, the majority live in Yunnan province in south west China, founded in the northern Thailand, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces. The Yao hill tribe originally come from Southern China. From the late 1800s to the early 19th century, the Yao started to migrate into Thailand and also Chiang Rai.

Mae Sai is the northernmost district (amphoe) of Chiang Rai Province in northern Thailand. The town of Mae Sai is a major border crossing between Thailand and Myanmar. Asian Highway Network AH2 (Thailand Route 1 or Phahonyothin Road) crosses the Mae Sai River to the town Tachileik in Myanmar.

The tour continues into Golden Triangle territory, visiting Sop Ruak, where the Ruak river converges with the mighty Mekong and borders of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos converge. This is the apex of the Thai portion of notorious Golden Triangle, but nowadays this side of the border is less wild. Continue on to the ancient town of Chiang Saen, which features many temples ruins haphazardly scattered about town, the Chiang Sean Buddha images with their fine oval faces are said to be the earliest expression of a purely Siamese sculptural style.