Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ling Chinese atmosphere provide a bizarre contrast with the largely traditional Tai Lü vil-
lages that surround Mong La.
Sights & Activities
Most people come to Mong La to gamble, although most of the casinos have moved to
Wan Siw
, a village a few miles west of Mong La. The casinos aren't exactly foreigner-
friendly, generally featuring games that most Western tourists aren't familiar with while
also requiring gamblers to exchange a certain amount of money (usually around US$50)
into non-refundable chips upon entry.
GOOGLE MAP
,
a
known hotspot for wildlife trafficking.
Museum in Commemoration of Opium-Free in Special Region
MUSEUM
( 24hr)
In 1997 Mong La was declared 'drug-free' by the Wa authorities, and
this temple-like museum was their effort to promote this. In addition to photos, maps and
paraphernalia, inside the dusty and neglected building you'll find creepy life-sized diora-
mas: one shows long-haired, leather-coat-wearing Myanmar youth abusing drugs before
eventually, post-rehab, sporting a new haircut and a pressed
longyi,
'come to the normal
stream of life'.
That Luang Mong La
BUDDHIST TEMPLE
( daylight hours)
This golden hilltop temple has views over the Chinese border
post and Mong La. Inside, you'll find an immense Buddha statue and dioramas of fam-
ous religious sites across Myanmar.
Day Trips Around Mong La
There's huge potential for trekking among various ethnic groups outside Mong La, but at
research time few routes had been established and overnight stays were generally not en-
couraged.
Destinations outside of Mong La include
Mong Puen
, a Tai Lü village a 30-minute
drive east of Mong La, where there's a crumbling old Buddhist temple and where most of
the 69 families live in traditional wooden houses;
Wat Nong Luang
, an old Buddhist
temple accessible only via a very rough four-hour drive; and
Nam Yi
, a village home to a
large Buddha image. A car and driver to most destinations around Mong La should cost
around Y400 to Y500 per day.
