Introduction 

Huay Pu Keng, a village along the Pai River in Mae Hong Son, Thailand, is known internationally as a home for the Kayan people. Many travelers recognize the community through images of women wearing brass neck rings, but the village’s story is more complex and meaningful. Today, thanks to community-led efforts, Huay Pu Keng is reshaping how visitors learn about Kayan culture through ethical and empowering community tourism. 

This approach focuses on local ownership, cultural pride, and sustainable livelihoods. It also helps correct common misconceptions about the Kayan community. 

Who Are They

The Kayan are part of the broader Karenni (Kayah) ethnic group originally from Myanmar. Many families settled in Thailand in the 1980s and 1990s after escaping conflict. Several subgroups, including Kayan, Red Karen, Kayaw, Pakayor, and Shan families, now live together in Huay Pu Keng. 

The brass neck rings often worn by Kayan women carry cultural meaning and beauty. While they appear to lengthen the neck, the rings actually lower the collarbone, giving the impression of elongation. The practice is a personal choice and remains a significant symbol of identity. 

Fair Tourism’s Capacity Building in Huay Pu Keng 

Since 2012, Fair Tourism has supported Huay Pu Keng with training, organization, and tools that strengthen local management. Their work helps the village lead their own tourism activities with confidence and skill. 

Key initiatives include: 

Skill Development 

Community members receive training in English, guiding, hospitality, business management, and traditional crafts. These skills empower villagers and support long term independence. 

Local Leadership 

More than 200 residents contribute to decisions about tourism. This structure ensures that tourism serves the community rather than outside companies. 

Digital Platforms

A booking system makes it easier for visitors to plan ethical tours and allows villagers to manage reservations transparently. 

Cultural Experiences 

Visitors can participate in weaving, wood carving, jewelry making, cooking, and forest walks that focus on traditional medicinal plants. Homestays provide deeper cultural exchange through the extended possibilities to engage in the daily routine of the host family and generate income that goes directly to local families. 

Common Misconceptions About the Kayan Community 

Misconception 1: The Village Is a Human Zoo 

This misunderstanding comes from older tourism models where communities had little control and visitors treated the village as a photo stop. Today, Huay Pu Keng leads its own tourism, and visitors come to learn, not to observe passively. 

Misconception 2: Community Tourism Is Only Charity 

Community tourism is not charity. It is a fair partnership where the community decides how culture is shared. Villagers gain income, skills, and ownership. Travelers contribute by choosing responsible experiences. 

Misconception 3: Tourism Does Not Benefit the Kayan 

Tourism now directly supports families through guiding, craft workshops, homestays, and handmade product sales. This income is especially important for people who face limitations in the labor market. 

Misconception 4: Families Are Forced to Stay in Tourism Villages 

Past resettlement policies were complex, and early tourism was not always ethical. Today, the community is redefining their own future. Through community tourism, residents choose how to participate and how to represent their heritage. 

How to Uplift Kayan Visibility and Break Misconceptions 

Support Ethical, Local Tourism 

Choose tours, workshops, and homestays run by the community or in partnership with organizations like Fair Tourism. 

Highlight Real Stories 

Write and share content that focuses on the people, their skills, and their daily lives. Real storytelling helps shift the narrative from “exotic attraction” to human community. 

Encourage Local Ownership 

Support training programs, digital tools, and leadership development that strengthen the village’s role in tourism. 

Educate Travelers 

Visitors should learn about the history of the Kayan people before arriving. Respectful behavior, such as asking before taking photos and buying crafts directly from artisans, helps reinforce dignity. 

Promote Cultural Learning 

Participating in weaving or cooking workshops, joining forest walks, or staying in a homestay fosters a more authentic connection that reduces stereotyping. 

Conclusion 

The Kayan people of Huay Pu Keng have a history shaped by migration, resilience, and cultural pride. Community tourism, supported by Fair Tourism’s capacity building initiatives, provides a path to protect traditions while strengthening economic opportunities. 

By uplifting local leadership and correcting misconceptions, travelers and tourism professionals can help the Kayan share their culture with dignity and confidence. We're lucky to be able to learn from the Kayan communities to understand their culture, philosophies and values. Our partnership aimed to strengthen local skills, leadership and visibility, helping the communities share their story on their own terms.  

We encourage you to plan your visit or activity directly with Huay Pu Keng community as your support will strengthen their local tourism. And give them the control to navigate their own narratives as they should.