From Wikitravel

Ban Rak Thai (literally "the Thai-loving village"), also known as Mae Aw in many guide books and some maps, is a city near Mae Hong Son. It was settled by former Kuo Min Tang (Nationalist) fighters from Yunnan province, China, after the Communist takeover of China. The population is about 800, mainly Chinese born or Thai born Chinese. Many signs are in Chinese, and much of the population speaks a heavily accented version of Mandarin Chinese. If you speak Chinese, try it out, especially on some of the elderly people. They will be happy to speak with you, and can share some rather interesting stories of their lives pre- and post- exile, as well as about the drug trade that used to dominate the economy here.

[edit] Understand

Banrakthai(บ้านรักไทย) or Mae Aw (密窝村แม่ออ) is settled to be last check point and controlling camp for Jade trade ( 玉石 หินหยก) after The chief of Kuomintang 国民党 had contract with Thai government for joint army to fight communist rebels and Thai government want stopping drug trade. Then Mae Aw village (老密窝村แม่ออเก่า Old in Myanmar site) is important for the last army camp close to Thailand in The Shan State (รัฐฉานประเทศพม่า) for controlling the Jade trade along Salween River (แม่น้ำสาละวิน) or Salawin in Thai language. They took jades from northern Myanmar pass Kayah state and took up river the name "Pai River (แม่น้ำปาย)" to The village name Ban Huayduer (หมู่บ้านห้วยเดื่อ) in Thailand. Now, Ban Huayduer is famous for tourism, boat station taking long tail boat travel to Long neck Karen women.

Why they is there, if you see map this village close to the thai border and Kayah state (รัฐคะยาประเทศพม่า) border. From village is the valley with stream and river to join Salween river just walk half day ( about 8-10 hour ) and when Mae Aw have road to connect city,they don't need to pass Kayah State.

It's real after the road had ready connection to Mae hongson city (เมืองแม่ฮ่องสอน)they transported jade from this village instead.

When they moved Mae Aw village from Myanmar site to Thailand site, the name village is call new Mae Aw village.(: 新密窝村 แม่ออใหม่) In 1983-4 the fighting in there was finished in this place, the The government set there to be the village in Thai name call Ban Rak Thai( 拉泰村 หมู่บ้านรักไทย) or the meaning Love Thailand village. Any unlaw trade stop and starting to join in royal project, to grow tea 茶 plant.

Now, when you come to Maehongson city, all travel agency will recommend you travel the Banrakthai route, there are many attraction and places to visit.

[edit] Get in

Public transportation appears to be rather spotty around here. Your best bet is to either hire a guide from Mae Hong Son, in which case they can provide you with far more information than this page will, or to rent a motorbike in Mae Hong Son and ride up on your own. The ride is beautiful, meandering through a picturesque valley, up and down steep hills on a very windy road. The road is paved all the way. Watch for cow manure in the curves. It can be rather slippery, and the story of why your trip was suddenly aborted could be most embarrassing.

From Mae Hong Son, head North on 1095. About 10km up, you will see signs for Ban Rak Thai. Take a left, and follow this windy road for another 35km or so, until it ends in the village. Geocoordinates: N19 35.109, E097 56.552.

[edit] Get around

The village is not tiny,but easily walking around. There 're many places you can visit if you know and find them. All most tourist or people come here only being tour program and walk around in center of village near school to see many shops to eat and buy something to be souvenir. Here is good place to over stay or learning about nature of life. You can come to join processing tea by yourself if you want but you must try to find whom have service for you. You want them,please search more in website.

[edit][add listing] See

The lake, Chinese tea shops, surrounding mountains. The scenery is amazing, with the town set in a valley surrounded by hills which contain the smuggling routes to and from Myanmar.

[edit][add listing] Do

Visit a tea plantation to learn about processing tea products.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Tea and dried fruit. Any number of shops sell a dizzying variety of tea, which grows well at these altitudes, and seems to be one of the primary products.There are nice Quality oolong teas grown here and some of the best are here for tasting.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Yunnan style Chinese food, which involves a lot of tea leaves, pork fat and oil. Not as bad as it sounds, but you will probably want to supplement it with a bit of dried fruit.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Tea. Available everywhere.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

There appear to be at least two guest houses in town, both near the lake (since pretty much everything in the town is near the lake). They cannot possibly be very expensive, though this author didn't check. As of Nov. 2011. Prices Range from 300TB to well over 1000TB. There are a number of guest houses operating around the lake. From basic mud huts to Nice little villas. Most are rather basic and tatty. This place has become a big Thai Tourist destination. It gets many tour vans each day but few stay over night. It gets packed on the holidays. Evenings around the lake are cool and lovely.

[edit] Get out

Same way you came in, unless you fancy sneaking over the border into Myanmar, a move that we do not recommend. A small dirt road goes to a tiny village across the border, and the guards don't seem to care. But there isn't much to see there except a school and a shop or two with some thatched homes, and a Thai flag flying above on the hill. Only has a dirt road in bad shape.

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