The Golden Triangle. You must’ve heard of it before. Ah yes, it is the place where they used to make opium, right? Well, not anymore. Even though the area is closely associated with the drug, it is now a peaceful and serene area with cool mountain and river air. The Golden Triangle consists of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos while other definitions include Vietnam and even the Southern China.

The opium producing history that made the area famous (or infamous, however you want to see it) is just that, history. Many initiatives have been placed to rid the area of drug production and trafficking. What you will see instead are the calm sights of rolling forested hills, rivers (the Mekong and the Ruak Rivers in particular) and beautiful botanical gardens such as the one in Doi Tung in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. Oh and don’t forget those opium museums. They really paint the picture for you about the region’s troubled past and give you detailed descriptions of the drug. Just how detailed? Some of these museums actually grow the poppy fruit right there. Hey, visual aid works best, right?

www.exotravel.com/