The Vernacular Landscape, Developing and Promoting Tourism in ChiangKhong District, Chiang Rai Province

This study comes from observing and studying about the area based strategy of change in Chiangkhong to be the city that can be balanced and stable in the midst of tourism and economic development. It focuses mainly on using the vernacular landscape. The objectives of this research are (1) to study surrounding areas and the identity of the vernacular landscape in ChiangKhong, Chiang Rai province, (2) to study about the roles of the vernacular landscape that effects the present promotion and development of tourism in ChiangKhong. The methods used in this study are reviewing literatures and related researches; including observing areas to collect data about landscape according to the meaning of the vernacular landscape and information about all 7 sub-districts about the role of landscape to tourism issues, interviewing people who are related, then analyzing and give descriptive summary. The study has shown that the vernacular landscape in ChiangKhong occurred by natural and cultural factors. All factors are connected; the Mae-Khong river, varieties of ethnic groups and Buddhism are the reasons that people’s way of life, culture, tradition, and belief are influenced. Also, this caused the vernacular landscape to have a “combine” form and show the identity of “place” clearly. Bringing out the vernacular landscape to promote and support recent tourism plans can be divided into 3 categories; which includes using original assets, adapting and improving the original assets and creating new activities in forms and types of the vernacular landscape, both in hardscape and softscape.