The condition of dwellings in Baan Mae Taun, Tambon Mae Taun, Om Koi District, after being severely hit by the depression on May 20 causing lumbers and branches flowing down. (picture courtesy of Provincial Disaster Prevention and Relief Operation Center)

“We live in the forests and benefit from the forests, as well as city people do. If men turned their backs on the forests, there would be none left and no benefit could be made either. There are people who understand less than those who do not. Thus, we would soon find means to communicate with them.” These were the prophetic words from Anan Duangkaewroen, chairman of the Community Forest Network.

Northern provinces woo Vietnamese tourists

Vietnamese business people have met with Chiang Mai entrepreneurs for talks to open Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces to Vietnamese tourists.

Pichai Raktasinha, director of the Indochina Marketing Promotion of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) introduced Vietnam business people to tourism-related entrepreneurs at Chiang Mai’s Empress Hotel on May 19.