Buzz
When in Thailand, don't miss out on visiting the city of Chiang Mai in the northern part of the country, as there are countless fascinating things to discover here.
As soon as I stepped into the hotel, I was introduced to many attractions here. One place that intrigued me the most was learning about a unique tribe with elongated necks. About 45 minutes north of downtown Chiang Mai is the home of the Kayan tribe.
Walking deep into the village, there are stilt houses similar to those in Northern Vietnam. In front, there are girls sitting weaving fabric with their uniquely long necks. They always greet visitors with bright smiles.
According to history, their ancestors were indigenous people in Myanmar who migrated to Thailand. Women play a crucial role in the family, maintaining the Mother System, and according to the ancient belief, the longer the neck, the more beautiful and prestigious.
Little girls start wearing these neck rings at the age of 5 until the end of their lives. They happily share the history and explain the tradition of wearing these rings, which gradually increase over the years, elongating the neck with time.
Beyond silk sold in the long-neck tribe, umbrellas, lanterns, and fans stand out as traditional and visually stunning items in Chiang Mai. The Bo Sang village, on the outskirts of Chiang Mai, has a tradition of crafting umbrellas and lanterns for over 200 years. All the materials such as silk, cotton fabric, Sa paper (made from mulberry tree bark), and bamboo are produced and sourced right in Chiang Mai.
Visitors to Bo Sang can admire hundreds of varieties of umbrellas and lanterns with a rich array of sizes and colors. Additionally, the production of numerous colorful bamboo fans also takes place here.
On the other hand, the most exquisite silverware in Thailand is crafted in Chiang Mai by families with a long history in the trade. Traditional skills and a silver purity level of 92.5% guarantee true value for products like cups, plates, boxes, or decorative items. Silver shops are concentrated along Wua Lai Street, where craftsmen and their families reside.
About 30 km outside the city, I reached the Elephant Camp at Mai Seang. Here, you can't miss the impressive and unique performances by the elephants.
The opening act is a musical stroll with melodic sounds emitted by the elephants' surprisingly clear calls. The elephants will kneel down and raise their trunks to greet the audience.
The elephant soccer performance is equally captivating, with one elephant kicking the ball into the goal while another stands in front of the net, using its head, trunk, and legs to try and kick the ball out...
I can't believe how they manage to train elephants like that! Especially when it comes to the moment when the elephants use their trunks to paint, I'm truly impressed.
It's only when you get up close, witness and see the artworks depicting flowers, grass, the sea, and trees that you can truly appreciate it. Intrigued, I decided to take an elephant ride around the forest. They are professionally trained to the point that when a guest is about to climb on their back, they automatically kneel down, using their trunks to gently lift the person up.
Chiang Mai's Night Bazaar is always bustling with tourists. The locals here seem calm and relaxed, not busy or rushed like in other major cities in Thailand.
They stroll leisurely, take peaceful breaks, gather in front of their houses, engage in lively conversations, and always greet with a gentle bow and clasped hands saying 'Sawadee' when they meet anyone.
Travel Information:
– From Ho Chi Minh City, there are Thai Airways flights to Bangkok, and then you can take a flight to Chiang Mai. You can book affordable tickets from Air Asia, around 9 million VND for all four flights.
– The currency used is the Thai Baht. 1 Baht = 700 Vietnamese Dong.
– March 13th every year in Thailand is a festival dedicated to talented elephants, and visitors are treated with great extravagance.
– Chiang Mai Plaza Hotel offers a sophisticated and tranquil stay at $40 per night.
By Thu Giang
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourAugust 8, 2015
