Sipping herbal tea harvested from the jungles of northern Thailand, I sit with Athu at his Akha cultural centre, perched among the rolling hills of the Golden Triangle. He speaks in broken English, his third language, wearing a black shirt and a small brown fedora. Around us, Akha’s tools, clothing, and ornaments fill the room, each piece a window into life in these remote hills.
“My parents always followed the ways of the Akha. I went to school, but when they did ceremonies or cooked, I watched. They didn’t teach me like in school, but I learned by doing. If the young generation understands, they will care more and preserve our culture.” – Athu
Tradition as Practice and Purpose
For Athu and many hill tribe members, tradition is practical as well as cultural. He believes tourism, when led by the community, can help protect culture rather than threaten it. His Akha Cultural Centre allows both locals and visitors to learn the old ways through experience, sharing culture without commodifying it.
“Preserving tradition can make money. Tourists buying baskets or textiles supports our community.”
However, it’s clear that passing knowledge on is not without challenges.
“I am sad about the young Akha. It is an oral tradition. You have to remember everything in your head, there is no curriculum.”
The Landscape of Northern Hill Tribes
Northern Thailand’s highlands are home to diverse communities, each with unique languages, beliefs, and traditions. Among the largest are:
- Akha – known for intricate headdresses and animist beliefs
- Karen – recognised for handwoven textiles and agricultural life
- Lahu – villages perched along remote mountain ridges
Many migrated from China, Tibet, and Myanmar, preserving practices largely untouched, until the modern world arrived.
Tourism as a Tool for Preservation
Tourism can sometimes commodify culture, but it can also help keep traditions alive. Young artisans, chefs, musicians, and craftspeople can earn income while sharing skills and pride in their heritage.
I saw this first-hand with Taksin, a Karen villager from Mae Tala Nuea. His village gained electricity just 20 years ago, and children once walked four hours to school. Taksin adapted tradition for modern times, opening an elephant sanctuary that employs local villagers and allows culture and tourism to coexist.
Tourists give us work. Before, we carried food ourselves. Now we can sell it and improve our lives. We can buy a car, a house, a scooter. I can also work with a team in the jungle and keep our elephants and traditions alive.” – Taksin
Ethical Travel in Action
Meeting Athu, Taksin, and others, I realised that tourism isn’t always harmful. Respectful engagement can give young hill tribe members confidence, purpose, and sustainable livelihoods.
Here’s how visitors can participate in meaningful ways:
- Staying in family-run homestays
- Learning a single weaving pattern or craft
- Listening to elders’ oral histories
Thoughtful tourism is helping traditions survive while giving travellers an authentic, immersive experience. And this is how, in northern Thailand, culture is both preserved and continues to thrive.