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Northern Thailand

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Northern Thailand is generally cooler and less humid than the rest of the country. This area is famous for the nine Hill tribes including the Karen, Hmong, and Litsu. There is an effort to maintain these tribal villages and the tribal way of life, simply for the fact that they generate a lot of income from tourism. There is, equally, concern over the potential exploitation of tribal people for monetary purposes. While this area is famous for its rich tribal traditions, the Golden Triangle, as it is called, is infamous for the production of opium. Recent years have brought about aggressive efforts to curtail the production by offering substitute crops and by stepping up government involvement to block the drug trade. The fertile soil and cooler weather facilitates many types of vegetable farming. Teak wood and pottery are other industries in the area. Many of the high-end department stores in the US have some of their product lines manufactured in the Northern region of Thailand. Chiang Mai is the major city of the region. It is located over 450 miles north of Bangkok. A flight lasts an hour an a half while a train or bus ride can take up to 12 hours from the capital. Regardless of how you get there, visitors love the city. It is a great starting point for trekking, elephant rides, visiting the Hill tribes, mountain biking, rafting, and even golf excursions. Cooking schools and other educational activities abound. The Night Bazaar is a favorite place to shop. There are many foreigners in this city, so few people feel homesick in Chiang Mai. You can expect to find many English speakers in Chiang Mai (especially all the expiates!) but the local dialect is called Kham meung. For those who want a less- tourist-infested locale in Thailand, Chiang Rai is a wonderful option. Other major cities to consider visiting in Northern Thailand are Nan, Phitsanulok and nearby Sukothai, and Mae Hong Son.

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