In 1988, under the royal initiative, the late mother of the King inaugurated the Doi Tung Development Project in the Thai corner of the Golden Triangle. It tackles the problems of opium production, environmental degradation and rural poverty in the area.

As part of the project, this modern and informative museum, the Hall of Opium, was built to tell the history of opium and the Golden Triangle.

Thai people spent years and millions of dollars to put together this hall, in an effort not to forget this particular chapter in their history. The Royal Project, which was started decades ago, worked to eradicate opium supply, drug use, and rural poverty. It has transformed the Thai area of the Golden Triangle Region, and changed the lives of those living in the hill tribes.

This textile factory is one of dozens in the hills of the Golden Triangle. It employs some 300 local tribesmen. Now they produce textiles worth 1.6 million US dollars annually. 50 percent of the goods are exported to places as far as Italy and France.