Chiang-Sean - The Golden Triangle Park

Chiang Saen

"The Golden Triangle"

1 "The Golden Triangle" View Point

So finally as a tourist you have decided to check out this place - Golden Triangle! What sort of place is this?

Yes! There are the wonders at the Golden Triangle - a vast piece of land where 3 countries meet - Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, all in one locality. In the past, significant amount of history that had being created in this area. Smuggling!

So the Thai government capitalized on this fact, dramatized the history. Then, erected a couple of monuments for curious visitors to have their photos taken to commemorate that "fact". Every hopeful like to get involved in this history - well, a little bit.

OK, the appointed "Golden Triangle" site has 2 official spots here, 1] View point and 2] Golden Triangle Park.

First, both these spot are 9 km north of of a small town Chiang Saen which is along the Mekong riverside road. The settlement here is called Sop Ruak. Well chosen as the view point would allow visitor to see the a] the confluence where Mekong River flows b] the border between Thailand and Laos, meets Ruak River, c] the border between Thailand and Myanmar.

In the historical past, the real Golden Triangle would be a vast region where the world's largest source of drug trafficking was happening. Favoured by the fact the activities took place in few privileged and remote locations, spread out through the lands of the 3 countries. However, time passed, the situation is now somewhat under controlled. So country like Thailand could openly announced that smuggling is the thing of the past. Chosen an iconic spot, this location is currently taken good care of and safe enough to becomes a popular tourist attraction.

From the viewpoint, the tourists could see for themselves, this magical triangular land that connects the three countries.

View of the Golden Triangle

Golden Triangle - a crude signage

To induce authencity

The old and original Arch still standing

Here is a picture of the "mummy" posing with the old icon

Yes! the old and original Arch

So happy to find it still there. This is our first photo - Jackie and our Dalmatian Beetle taken on 22nd, November 1996

Shops for the tourists

Rows of them

Rest stop with shades

Souvenirs Shops

All kinds of Souvenirs

At last - A Bubble Tea stall

More - these are the Ornaments at View Point

First time for me - seeing them, Could be added since the last time I came

Across the river

Taken from a boat cruising on the Mekong

The Ornaments & Gold Buddha

A picture to show the proximity of the two spots. Distant between the View Point & Golden Triangle Park

2. "The Golden Triangle" Park

For the park, I am too lazy to compose my own write-up. So I just copied the text in verbatim from the Thai Tourist Board.

Other activities while on a visit to this place:- the tourists can rent the boat from Sop Ruak to reach Chiang Saen and also travel further on another 40 minutes to reach Chiang Khong. Both locations are equally important spots for the activities you desire. At the Golden Triangle Park itself. There are beautiful spots for the tourists to make pictures with its spectacular background. While here - Pay your respect to the Phra Chiang Saen Si Phaendin or Phra Buddha Nawa Lan Tue, which appears as a Buhhda sitting outdoors on a large boat called Rua Kaew Kusoltham. It is a magnificent bronze Buddha image and is even more outstanding when bathe under the sunlight. Of course never forget the many souvenir shops for tourists.

Scenes from the Golden Triangle Park Buddha images

As seen from the passing boats

The Golden Triangle Park

Close up with details