How to Visit the Long Neck Tribe in Mae Hong Son, Thailand 🇹🇭

Is visiting a Long Neck village a "human zoo" or a way to support a unique culture? On Day 3 of our Mae Hong Son Loop journey, we traveled 18km outside of town to find Huay Pu Keng, widely considered the most authentic Kayan (Long Neck) village in Thailand.

To get there, we had to navigate mud, cross the powerful Pai River by boat, and enter a world where traditions are being kept alive by a resilient refugee community. We sat down with the Kayan women to ask the questions everyone wonders: Do they ever take the rings off? Can they marry outside the tribe? How do they live without a power grid or citizenship?

Join us as we explore the village, try on the heavy brass rings ourselves, shop for authentic handmade crafts, and share a meal (and a few surprises!) in this beautiful, remote corner of Northern Thailand.

What we cover in this video:
00:00:40 - Departing Mae Hong Son: The mission to find Huay Pu Keng
00:01:40 - Navigating landslides and finding the secret intersection
00:03:14 - Crossing the Pai River: The boat ride and the cost
00:05:46 - Entering the village and the first shop encounter
00:06:18 - Trying on the rings! (How heavy are they really?)
00:08:04 - How the rings are actually put on the neck
00:08:20 - Interview: History, marriage, and the new generation
00:10:02 - The truth about their refugee status and Thai government support
00:11:03 - Shopping for authentic handmade scarves and carvings
00:12:40 - Why this village is different from the ones in Chiang Mai
00:14:48 - Exploring deeper: The school, the church, and the "Human Zoo" debate
00:18:33 - Trying local food: Khao Soy and a "chicken" surprise
00:22:13 - Living without electricity: Solar power and mountain water
00:23:51 - Final chat with Son: Sleeping with the rings and the "No Handshake" rule
00:25:40 - Leaving the village: Was it worth it?

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