Golden Triangle
Meeting Point Of Thailand, Laos And Myanmar At The Mekong And Ruak Rivers; Chiang Saen'S Ancient Lanna Walls Lie Nearby · Chiang Saen, Chiang Rai
The Golden Triangle is the point at Sop Ruak, in Chiang Saen district at the northern tip of Thailand, where the Ruak River flows into the Mekong and the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. The name was coined for the wider upland region of the three countries that for decades produced much of the world's illicit opium, and today the Thai bank turns that history into a stop on every northern itinerary. A riverside terrace with a large golden seated Buddha and a sign reading Golden Triangle looks across the confluence to the forested Myanmar shore on one side and Laos on the other, where casino developments now rise. Longtail boats run short trips on the Mekong and to the Lao market island of Don Sao. Two museums tell the opium story, the large Hall of Opium in Golden Triangle Park being by far the better. A few kilometres south lies Chiang Saen, an ancient Lanna walled town with a moat, brick chedis and a national museum, and further along the river are Chiang Khong, the bridge to Laos and the slow boats to Luang Prabang.
Sop Ruak, Wiang, Chiang Saen, Chiang Saen, Chiang Rai, 57150, Thailand
NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The typical pattern: the Sop Ruak riverside and viewpoint are open at all times, with the stalls from about 8 am to around 6 pm. The Hall of Opium has opened about 8:30 am to 4 pm, with last entry well before closing, and has closed on Mondays. The House of Opium opens roughly from morning to early evening. Mekong boats run from about 8 am to around 5 or 6 pm, and Don Sao landings follow the same daylight hours when allowed. Wat Pa Sak opens during daylight, and the Chiang Saen National Museum has opened about 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, often closing on Mondays and Tuesdays. Local buses back to Chiang Rai end in the late afternoon. The traps that ruin a day are arriving at the Hall of Opium on its closing day, reaching the viewpoint at noon with every tour bus, relying on a Don Sao stop that is closed, and missing the last bus. Confirm current times before relying on them.