All That Glitters
Once lawless and locked away, the Golden Triangle region today has struck gold in a wide range of tourism
Planning to visit the Golden Triangle? Great! There’s only one problem: it doesn’t exist. That’s not to say that the Golden Triangle is a product of legend like Shangri-La or El Dorado. Nor has the Golden Triangle been torn down and renovated by an unscrupulous developer. And no, the Golden Triangle is not secretly made of tin.
Here’s the problem: although this place where Thailand, Laos and Burma meet is still a famous tourist destination, it’s not really a destination at all. It is only a vaguely-defined region, one sketched out by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States—that is, the only thing that put this previously hard-to-reach region on the map was the production and trade of illegal opium. During a large part of the last century, this wide swath of Southeast Asian backcountry was where most of the world’s opium and heroin were produced. The moniker “golden” came about not just because of the riches generated from the trade, but also because those involved in this trade often expected to be paid in gold.
Today, the opium trade is all but gone. However, an eager new customer has come to town—tourists in search of a quick fix of the legendary wild, wild east. And while most of these day-tripping junket-junkies are unlikely to experience a very satisfying trip, for those looking for more than a pipe dream, a visit to the Golden Triangle can afford a shimmering wealth of experience.
