Golden Triangle Park Sop Ruak

Ban Sop Ruak (Thai: บ้านสบรวก) is a village in Wiang subdistrict (tambon) of Chiang Saen District (amphoe) in Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand. The village is situated at the confluence of the Ruak River and the Mekong River which forms the tripoint border of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. This location has enabled it to be marketed to tourists as the “heart” of the Golden Triangle (Southeast Asia), as the area is popularly known as.

Ban Sop Ruak’s claim to fame is its location near the “center” or “heart” of the Golden Triangle area which was previously infamous for being a major opium growing and drug supply area by virtue of being adjacent to the meeting point of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. Several monuments have been constructed to mark this spot, including a border reference pillar, arches, photography lookout points and signboards.

A huge golden statue of Buddha called the Phra Chiang Saen Si Phaendin sitting on a boat, together with other Buddhist symbols and animal statues have been constructed on the bank of the Mekong River at the mouth of the Ruak River. Jetties for boats for Mekong River tours are also located nearby, while cafes, restaurants, hotels line Ban Sop Ruak’s main road.

The Hall of Opium Museum is the larger of two museums dedicated to the drug that made area become labelled by the CIA as the Golden Triangle. The huge museum, owned by a Thai Royal Family foundation, gives a historical account of poppy growing and opium as well as other drug production in an interesting display. The museum and its surrounding park lies about 1 km north of Ban Sop Ruak.

A smaller private-owned House of Opium is located in the center of Ban Sop Ruak about 100 metres south of the Golden Triangle Monument.

– Wikipedia Ban Sop Ruak