Chiang Rai Travel Forum

Hi could anybody shed any light on the Akha Village guesthouse about 20ks from Chiang Rai for me. THe brochure presents it in a very positive light as a charity that gives most of its profits to the village people. I was all set to go but came across a leaflet in my hostel claiming to be written by the villagers themselves. Said they recieve nothing from the guesthouse and tourists should boycott the place on the grounds it is a have for drug dealers etc. Which propaganda should i believe can anybody help asap if possible as running out of time up here.
Thanks
TOmmy

Hi Tommy,
Getting to the bottom of who is right and whether this is part of a smear campaign would take a great deal of insight and a solid understanding of the language. HArd to sort out when you are trying to have a vacation.
Without knowing more and having limited time, i would probably go and keep my eyes open to what is happening around you while there. Usually at some point Ahka villagers will bring out their wears for you to buy. At that point you may, and you can pretty secure in knowing that the vendor gets the money spend unless there is someone other than the vendor in control of the situation i.e your tour guide.
What is the organization that is implicated in this?
TAT (the Tourist Authority of Thailand) is usually pretty useless with anything regarding hill tribes.
Depending on if you have time and how important this is to you, you can ask a couple of local orgs in CR that work with Akha people. One is the Hill Area Devel. Foundation - well known and reputable, the head of this org is now a senator. You likely will not meet Tuenjai but her staff might be able to decipher your problem:
Khun Tuenjai Deetes
HADF
222 Moo 16, Pa-Niw Road Soi 3
Robwiang
Amphur Muang
Chiangrai 57100
Another group that works with Akha people is DAPA:
Development Agriculture and Education Project for the Akha (DAPA)
115 Mu 2
Tambon Rimkok
Amphoe Muang
Chiang Rai 57100
Tel : (+66) (53) 713-169
Fax : (+66) (53) 750-172
e-mail : dapa@loxinfo.co.th
They do run tours of Akha villages and i am wondering if they have been implicated? DAPA did reputable work in Akha villages, but if they have pissed someone off, the letter you found may be the result.
Good luck. Your dilemma is not an easy one. The whole issue of 'where does the money go' is one of my main reasons for choosing not to do treks.
Cheers
Klaus

Thanks for the input and advice Klaus. In the end i ended up deciding against going as time was against me. I am still intrigued over whether the claims were true. THe exact name of the place was the Akha Hill house the guesthouse leaflet claimed a local chief ran it. Interesting thing was the leaflet denouncing the place was on the hostel's headed paper so not sure what to make of that. Anyway have left the region now but still intrigued over what the truth was so if you happen to hear anything more about it let me know. Otherwise thanks again for the help.
TOmmy