Golden Triangle (Sop Ruak)

สามเหลี่ยมทองคำ

The confluence of the Mekong and Ruak rivers, where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. Once a centre of the opium trade, it now has viewpoints, a giant Buddha statue, opium museums and Mekong boat trips.

The Golden Triangle lies at Sop Ruak in Chiang Saen district, about 70 km north of Chiang Rai city. Here the Ruak River flows into the Mekong. The western bank is Thailand, the northern bank is Myanmar, and the eastern bank is Laos, so the three countries meet along the river. In the mid-20th century, large-scale poppy cultivation in the mountains made the area one of the world's main sources of opium, which gave it the name Golden Triangle. After the 1980s, the Royal Project replaced poppy cultivation in Thailand with tea and coffee, and the area is now a tourist destination.

Highlights include a riverside park with a Golden Triangle arch and the flags of the three countries, a huge golden Buddha statue seated in a boat (Phra Buddha Nawa Lan Tue) and a naga sculpture by the river. Hillside viewpoints offer views over the land of all three countries and, across the river, the Golden Kapok casino zone in Laos. There are two museums: the smaller House of Opium (50 baht) and the large Hall of Opium (200 baht), established by the Queen Mother's foundation. The latter comprehensively covers the history of the opium trade and anti-drug efforts, and is well worth a visit. Long-tail boats on the Mekong (about 400 to 600 baht per boat, 30 to 60 minutes) take you close to the banks of Myanmar and Laos. You can land on the Don Sao island market in Laos for a landing fee of 30 to 50 baht, with no visa needed, and buy Lao beer and souvenirs there. Nearby Chiang Saen is a 14th-century Lanna ancient city with city walls and temple ruins. Thirty km north is the Mae Sai border crossing.

Game plan: take a one-day car charter from Chiang Rai (about 1,500 to 2,000 baht). In the morning, visit the Chiang Saen ancient city. Then see the Golden Triangle viewpoints and museums, have lunch by the river and take a boat. On the way back, pass through Mae Salong or Doi Tung.

Getting there: take a local bus from the Chiang Rai First Bus Terminal to Chiang Saen, about 1.5 hours, then transfer to a songthaew for 15 minutes. Alternatively, hire a car or join a day tour.

Note: you must carry your passport to land in Laos. Do not gamble or buy wildlife products on the Laos side, and do not buy the 'opium' souvenirs sold by roadside vendors along the river. The viewpoints have many steps.

Golden Triangle (Sop Ruak)

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