Northern Thailand - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 937

Golden Triangle
The tri-country border of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos is known as the Golden Triangle.
For more on this region, Click here .
Sop Ruak
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This small, riverside village has been dubbed the official 'centre of the Golden Triangle',
and in addition to Phra Chiang Saen Si Phaendin (Rte 1290; 7am-9pm) , a giant
Buddha statue that straddles a boatlike platform, is home to two opium-related museums.
The House of Opium ( www.houseofopium.com ; Rte 1290; admission 50B; 7am-7pm) has a small
display of poppy cultivation and opium paraphernalia, while 1km north of Sop Ruak is the
royally sponsored Hall of Opium (Rte 1290; admission 200B; 8.30am-4pm Tue-Sun) , an im-
pressive facility with multimedia exhibits on the history and effects of opium on individu-
als and society.
Long-tail boat trips (1hr cruise max 5 people per boat 400B; 6am-6pm) on the Mekong River
can be arranged at one of various piers. The typical trip involves a circuit upriver for a
view of the Myanmar casino hotel and a stop at the Lao island of Don Sao.
The only reason to stay overnight in or around Sop Ruak is to take advantage of some
of northern Thailand's best upscale lodgings. The Four Seasons Tented Camp ( 0 5391 0200;
www.fourseasons.com ; tent per night, all-inclusive 79,000-89,000B; ) has 15 luxurious
tents that are decked out in colonial-era safari paraphernalia, and guests are encouraged to
participate in daily activities ranging from mahout training to spa treatments.
Budget accommodation, such as Chiang Saen Guest House ( 0 5365 0196; 45/2 Th Rimk-
hong; r & bungalows 100-500B; ) , is available in Chiang Saen, 9km south.
From Sop Ruak, there are frequent so ̆ rngta ̆ aou to Chiang Saen (20B, from 7am to
noon). Minivans to Chiang Rai (50B, one hour, hourly from 6am to 5pm) wait in the park-
ing lot west of Phra Chiang Saen Si Phaendin.