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Approximately 8km northeast of Muang Sing, on the road to the Chinese border, lie two easily reached hilltribe villages : one Akha and one Mien. Both villages are quite used to receiving foreign visitors and are well acquainted with the outsiders' passion for the pipe. The Akha village, by far the poorer of the two, has a fairly high rate of addiction as a result of the demand created by travellers. The Mien village is a good place to visit if you are interested in acquiring a pair of fantastically embroidered traditional pantaloons. Other hilltribe villages in the vicinity of Muang Sing, including Hmong and Tai Dam settlements, are best reached with the assistance of a local guide. As of yet, treks are very informal and there is nothing like the organized trekking that exists in Thailand. Enquire at one of the guesthouses and, if a willing guide is found, you'll have to plan a route and negotiate a price. In a group of four or more, $4-5 per person should be a reasonable rate. Take lunch, as villagers can't be expected to provide food for everyone who passes through. If you decide to do a trek independently, always trek in groups , as there have been assaults on Western tourists in rural areas. If you are approached by armed men and robbery is clearly their intent, do NOT resist. Most hilltribe peoples are animists. Offerings to the spirits, often bits of food, left in what may seem like an odd place, should never be touched or tampered with. The Akha are known for the elaborate gates which they construct at the entrances to their villages. These gates have special meaning to the Akha and should also be left alone. Many hill folk are willing to be photographed , but old women, particularly of the Hmong and Mien tribes, are not always keen, so ask first. Passing out sweets to village kids is a sure way to generate mobs of young beggars. Likewise, the indiscriminate handing out of medicine , particularly antibiotics, does more harm than good. Unless you are a trained doctor, you should never attempt to administer medical care.
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