City on the Lake

Kengtung (alternatively spelled Kyaing Tong), is a melting pot of ethnic minorities. Dominated by the Shan majority that inhabit the valley, it is surrounded by small and remote tribal villages in the neighboring hills. They include the Akha, Lahu, Eng, Akhu, Palaung and Wa tribes, each with their unique customs, beliefs and distinctive dress.

Kengtung itself is scenic: a peaceful city around a small central lake. At first the city felt empty, a ghost town devoid of many of its inhabitants. Then I realized why: traffic was almost nonexistent. All the noise, commotion and activity that you’d subconsciously expect in a city this size wasn’t there. Subdued, both in noise and attitude. Whether that’s good or bad depends on the why and your point of view, but either way it made for a particularly relaxing base from which to explore the countryside.