Hill Tribes of Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle is made up of hill tribes, they are a mixed descent of Thai, Burmese, and Chinese. Six distinct major people groups namely Karen, Lisu, Mein, Hmong, Akha, and Lahu struggle to preserve their culture, traditions and beliefs against a backdrop of rapidly evolving society. 

As Golden triangle is infamously known as a conduit for opium trade, it will be no secret that hill peoples have used opium much like we use tobacco or cigarette.  Pictured below is the depiction of the best way to smoke opium; 

Golden Triangle: of opiums, tourism, and convergence

Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, separated by rivers Ruak (Myanmar and Thailand) and Mekong River (Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos), meet at the famous Golden Triangle; where you can be in three places at once. 

Tours are available for one to try navigating the Ruak and Mekong River or for a three-day cruise going up to China through Mekong. Smaller tugboats have a hard time going upstream so I'm pretty sure it's not advisable.