Tribal Museum

Visited the museum that was out of the centre with the outdoor model houses. Seemed closed when we first arrived but we headed to a main office where a truly lovely gentleman, the director, joined us and explained the museum. There is a small amount of factual information explaining each tribe, the social structures, familial traditions etc, accompanied by photos. Then the director personally took us round each style of tribal dwelling, explaining the layout and structure, the implements inside for cooking, worship, music etc and clothing styles. Some of the huts are actually lived in by tribes people, who walmly welcomed us to look around their home despite being sat down to lunch. The director's english was not brilliant but he tried his best to describe things to us and showed an interest in us personally, where we had been, where we were going etc. He gave us loads of leaflets on other places to visit in chiang mai too. There is a gift shop where charming handicrafts from the tribe are sold including sweet little thai worry dolls for children, purses, bags and bookmarks. Museum is free. Had a wonderful time and left feeling more informed.

This museum has two sections, the building on the lake, and the area with the hill tribe buildings near the entrance from the main road. The building on the lake has had a fire and apparently is due to open in December 2013.The area with the buildings is lovely for a quiet stroll, and has some information about the different hill tribes around northern Thailand. The gentleman in charge could also speak some English if you had questions. There will be a Hmong festival happening in mid February 2013.The area is a bit out of the way from other attractions, but is very calm and peaceful and a nice change from some of the high powered attractions around town.

Is museum is now closed an no one could tell me when and if it will open again. We went there today, and many of the windows were broken and the gates were locked. Don't bother wasting your time trying to go here. It's too bad that both this museum and the textile museum are both closed. If Chiang Mai wants to be a tourist attraction.....they need to provide things to attract us besides "Flight of the Gibbons".

“Visited the museum that was out of the center with the outdoor model houses. Seemed closed when we first arrived but we headed to a main office where a truly lovely gentleman, the director, joined us and explained the museum. There is a small amount of factual information explaining each tribe, the social structures, and familial traditions etc, accompanied by photos. Then the director personally took us round each style of tribal dwelling, explaining the layout and structure, the implements inside for cooking, worship, music etc and clothing styles. Some of the huts are actually lived in by tribes people, who warmly welcomed us to look around their home despite being sat down to lunch. The director's English was not brilliant but he tried his best to describe things to us and showed an interest in us personally, where we had been, where we were going etc. He gave us loads of leaflets on other places to visit in chiang mai too. There is a gift shop where charming handicrafts from the tribe are sold including sweet little thai worry dolls for children, purses, bags and bookmarks. Museum is free. Had a wonderful time and left feeling more informed.”