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Hill tribe village - Ban Nai Soi

Photo Gallery of a hill tribe village - Ban Nai Soi which is well-know for the long neck tribe in Mae Hong Son of Northern Thailand.

Ladies of Long Neck Karen
You will see gift shops along the street right after you enter the village.
Long Neck women are selling gifts.

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Mae Hong Son is about 300 km to the northwest from Chiang Mai, and it's close to the border between Thailand and Myanmar. It will take about 40 minutes from Chiang Mai by air (if my memory is correct. :D ).

Mae Hong Son is famous for Long Neck Tribe (Ban Nai Soi or the village on this page), the beautiful temples at the edge of a lake, Wat Chong Kham / What Chong Klang and the temple on top of a mountain, Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu reported on a different page.
Check out the Mae Hong Son top page for other spots.

There are three village of Long Neck Tribe in Mae Hong Son as follows, and I visited one of them, called " Ban Nai Soi ", the village of " Long neck tribe ".

Ban Nai Soi (this time)
Ban Huai Sua Tao (next)
Ban Ban Nam Pieng Din (not yet)

One hour drive from the city of Mae Hong Son toward Myanmar along a country road then through in a mountain while enjoying peaceful sceneries of a rural district.
Our tour guide told me that NHK, TV company in Japan, was going to visit here soon as of August, 2004.

Check the village of hill tribe people opened in 2005 in Chiang Mai, Baan Tong Luang Eco-Agricultural Village as well.

This page shows the village and the people there in August, 2004.

[Karen] To the village
[Karen] People
[Karen] Houses
[Karen] School
[Karen] Others

[Karen] To the village
After one hour drive from the city, we reached to their village, called " Ban Nai Soi". The guide says when it rains and water of creeks are swollen, you can not visit there like the picture down right even if you want to. (as of 2004)

Surroundings Going to their village while relaxing in a car.		Surroundings Going to their village while relaxing in a car.
Surroundings Going to their village while relaxing in a car.

Surroundings The first you'll drive along this kind of road.	Orange field They have a lot of orange fields.	Creek There is a creek on the way and you have to pass here by car. (It is concreted under the water.)
Surroundings The first you'll drive along this kind of road.	Orange field They have a lot of orange fields.	Creek There is a creek on the way and you have to pass here by car. (It is concreted under the water.)
Gate There is a gate near the village and Thai soldier protect there because this place is around the border between Thailand and Myanmar.	Close to the village Reached around the area. They have a small shop. Water: 10 Baht, Coke: 15 Baht.	Along a narrow way Walking along a narrow way to the village ....
Gate There is a gate near the village and Thai soldier protect there because this place is around the border between Thailand and Myanmar.	Close to the village Reached around the area. They have a small shop. Water: 10 Baht, Coke: 15 Baht.	Along a narrow way Walking along a narrow way to the village ....

The village After walking in a relaxed mood for a while, the village will show up. Now, let's go ! :D
The village After walking in a relaxed mood for a while, the village will show up. Now, let's go ! :D

[Karen] People

There are various theories, but only women, who were born on Wednesday, make their neck long.

Our tour guide told me that there were three kinds of people in Karen tribe.

Long Neck Karen
One is "Long Neck Karen". It's called "Long Neck tribe", "Padaung tribe" or "Pa Dong tribe".
Long Ear Karen
One is Long Ear Karen. It's also called "Kayoo".
Red Karen
One is Red Karen.

However, after visiting the village, I read some articles about them on the net; The tribe is more complicated than I thought and it looks like Long Neck Karen is a subgroup of Red Karen.
What's more, there are problems about their situation. If you are interested in more information, check the URL below when you have time.(WIKI)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayan_Lahwi

About " long neck ", only women, who were born on Wednesday, make their neck long.

Why women born on Wednesday is;
Long, long time ago, there was a scary happening. Only women who were born on Wednesday were bit and killed by a tiger. To protect those women from the tiger, people put neck ornaments on their neck.

This is one theory and it looks like there are some other theories.
I don't know if this is true or not but women born not only on Wednesday also wear neck ornaments for fashion.

Ladies of Long Neck Karen You will see gift shops along the street right after you enter the village. Long Neck women are selling gifts.
Ladies of Long Neck Karen You will see gift shops along the street right after you enter the village. Long Neck women are selling gifts. I heard that tourist dollars are their principal source of income.
Other women of Long Neck Karen They also are selling gifts.		Other women of Long Neck Karen They will smile when you take a picture of them.
Other women of Long Neck Karen They also are selling gifts.		Other women of Long Neck Karen They will smile when you take a picture of them. For this, buy a lot of gifts. :D
Other women of Long Neck Karen They will smile when you take a picture of them.
Other women of Long Neck Karen They will smile when you take a picture of them.
Waiting for visitors.		They sell Karen-woman-shaped dolls. I bought some as a memory.
Waiting for visitors.		They sell Karen-woman-shaped dolls. I bought some as a memory.

Waiting for visitors. It was still early morning when we visited there. Almost no visitors besides us.	small kid. So cute !	When they have time, they work for weaving.
Waiting for visitors. It was still early morning when we visited there. Almost no visitors besides us.	small kid. So cute !	When they have time, they work for weaving.
Another Karen The impression of her clothes is different a little from the women at gift shops.	With Kids ( woman of Long Neck Karen walking with her kids. Looks like she is controlling the three‐wheeler with a rod.	With Kids ( woman of Long Neck Karen walking with her kids. Looks like she is controlling the three‐wheeler with a rod.
Another Karen The impression of her clothes is different a little from the women at gift shops.	With Kids ( woman of Long Neck Karen walking with her kids. Looks like she is controlling the three‐wheeler with a rod.

Red Karen 1 Our guide says that women with black strings around knees are "Red Karen". If you see carefully, you will find their ears are also long.		Red Karen 1 Our guide says that women with black strings around knees are "Red Karen". If you see carefully, you will find their ears are also long.
Red Karen 1 Our guide says that women with black strings around knees are "Red Karen". If you see carefully, you will find their ears are also long.
Red Karen 2 A Red Karen woman is carrying something on her back.		Red Karen 3 She holds is holding their folk musical instrument, called Tuter ?
Red Karen 2 A Red Karen woman is carrying something on her back.		Red Karen 3 She holds is holding their folk musical instrument, called Tuter ?

Long Ear Karen Woman with long ears and her kid. See her lobes.	Red Karen 4 A Red Karen woman. Our tour guide is asking her about black strings around knees.	Red Karen 5 A Red Karen woman. Our tour guide is talking about what she is carrying. I forgot to ask what it was. So sad...
Long Ear Karen Woman with long ears and her kid. See her lobes.	Red Karen 4 A Red Karen woman. Our tour guide is asking her about black strings around knees.	Red Karen 5 A Red Karen woman. Our tour guide is talking about what she is carrying. I forgot to ask what it was. So sad...

Are their necks really long ?
Their necks are actually not long. The neck rings press down their shoulders and it makes their necks look longer. You will see the details in the page below with some pictures.
(This picture is sold in the village to support their lives.)

The secret of the giraffe-women,finally revealed.(broken link as of Nov.2014)
(by Johan Van Roekeghem, Belgium)

[Karen] Houses
Pictures of houses of Karen people. Their electricity is provided by storage batteries. Antennas are here and there, and they must have TVs. Motorbike also can be seen.

Residential quarter Visiting to their house area.		House 1 There is a house up there.
Residential quarter Visiting to their house area.		House 1 There is a house up there.

Sign 1 I don't know what it shows. :)	Dry Some spices (?) are in the sun.	Motorbike Motorbikes can be seen here and there.
Sign 1 I don't know what it shows. :)	Dry Some spices (?) are in the sun.	Motorbike Motorbikes can be seen here and there.

House 3 Close-up picture.		Creek Behind a house. A lot of bamboo poles are put over the creek. I wonder what they are for.
House 3 Close-up picture.		家の裏側の小川。竹みたいな木が沢山かかってますが、どうしてでしょう？

Antenna Antenna is there.	Sign 2 It looks a house number.	Cradle Bed for babies.
Antenna Antenna is there.	Sign 2 It looks a house number.	Cradle Bed for babies.

[Karen] School
School building. This is a school in the village. Kids of Long Neck Karen have a class with other kids. (Picture: School building)

They are studying. Higher-grade at elementary school ?		A student from Long Neck Karen is in the middle of this picture.
They are studying. Higher-grade at elementary school ?		A student from Long Neck Karen is in the middle of this picture.
Another classroom. Students from Long Neck Karen are here also.		Another classroom. Students from Long Neck Karen are here also.
Another classroom. Students from Long Neck Karen are here also.
This looks lower grades.		Looks like a time schedule.
This looks lower grades.		Looks like a time schedule.

Board to ask donation.	Japanese flag and it says as follows: Presenter 2003.8 DREAM BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION CO.,LTD. 1-33 KOEN-CHO, KITAMI-SHI, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN	One of classrooms ?
Board to ask donation.	Japanese flag and it says as follows: Presenter 2003.8 DREAM BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION CO.,LTD. 1-33 KOEN-CHO, KITAMI-SHI, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN	One of classrooms ?

[Karen] Others
Posters I found while walking in the village. The characters in the posters are not Thai but their language (Karen language ?) and even my wife (who are from Bangkok) didn't understand it. :D

Poster 1 Showing how to have a happy life ? The bottom right picture looks it says " don't hit your wife ". Universally common problem ??? :D		Poster 2 It seems that it calls people attention to mosquitos.
Poster 1 Showing how to have a happy life ? The bottom right picture looks it says " don't hit your wife ". Universally common problem ??? :D		Poster 2 It seems that it calls people attention to mosquitos.
Poster 2 It seems that it calls people attention to mosquitos.		Sensitive plant Sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) can be found. If you touch it, it bows.
Poster 2 It seems that it calls people attention to mosquitos.		Sensitive plant Sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) can be found. If you touch it, it bows.

I visited here 10 years ago (as of 2014).
I would like to visit there again if I have a chance to see how it's changed or if it's not changed at all.

If you are interested in Mae Hong Son, check out the Mae Hong Son top page for other spots !
Check the village of hill tribe people opened in 2005 in Chiang Mai, Baan Tong Luang Eco-Agricultural Village as well.

Home > Photos (Thailand) > Mae Hong Son > Hill tribe village - Ban Nai Soi

Hill tribe village - Ban Nai Soi

[Karen] To the village

[Karen] People

[Karen] Houses

[Karen] School

[Karen] Others