I didn't have enough time to dive deeply into the culture and all that Northern Thailand has to offer. I spent around 11 days and 10 nights in this region of Thailand. It isn't enough (as always), but it did give me a whole new perspective about the country as a whole.
During my day trip to Chiang Rai, I had the opportunity to meet some of the hill tribes of Thailand. The journey was long, but worth the trip.
I've read a couple of things about the tourist villages in northern Thailand, but I had to see the place myself to get a clearer picture of things. I didn't want to pass judgement, I wanted to maintain an open mind as to why these tribes remain in these fabricated villages, specifically for tourists.