The Thai Yai (Shan) can be seen along the northern border with Burma. They may at one time have been the most numerous of the ethnic Thai tribes that stretch across Southeast Asia. A large group settled in Mae Hong Son.
The Thai Yai culture has had a strong influence on the province, as can be seen in its architecture. Although a part of the Lanna region, the indigenous Thai Yai people living in Mae Hong Son are faced with very cold weather during winter and extremely hot weather in the summer, with mist or fog practically throughout the whole year. Not surprisingly they have had to adapt to the environment. As a result, their architectural style has developed into something different from other Lanna communities. Their living quarters are usually built with tall floors and low roofs, the sizes differing according to one’s social status and position. Homes of the ordinary folks are usually with one single level of roof, while those of the local aristocrats have two or more levels forming a castle-like shape. The space thus provided is believed to help air circulation. An interesting feature of the Thai Yai style is the perforated designs along the eaves which are an architectural identity of the area.
The Padaung are a sub-group of Karen refugees originating from the eastern Burmese state of Kayah on the Thailand border.
The Karen themselves are not one single group but rather a loose mix of closely related tribes. Among the smallest of the Karen tribes in Thailand are the Karen Padaung. This group’s women are strikingly recognized for the large brass rings they wear around their necks, thus lengthening them. They number less than 40,000 people in total. The Padaung call themselves "Lae Kur" or "Kayan" and they have their own unique language which originates from Tibeto-Burmese.
Located very near the provincial town is a settlement of Padaung and this village is one of the major tourist attractions in the area. Some people do complain though, that the village looks a bit like a ‘human zoo’ and it is owned by a company. To go or not, that decision is up to you.
Tours can be arranged to the Padaung village from all the travel agencies in town but going with a guide can make it feel even more like a zoo. A better way to go is to simply hire a motorbike and go alone. For a more 'real' experience a local NGO run non for profit tours that help protect the cultural diversity of the indigenous people found in the area.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Mae Hong Son Province
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Mae Hong Son Province - updated May 2024
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Mae Hong Son Province Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
