Chin state located in the remote, western part of Myanmar is the country’s poorest but most ethnically diverse region. It is home to more than 50 of Myanmar’s 135 recognised ethnical minorities. Mrauk U is a great starting point to visit Chin villages and meet the last living face-tattooed women of Chin tribes. The tradition of tattooing faces is dying out. In the next few years it will become increasingly difficult to experience this fascinating but disappearing habit.

The trip will include a short journey by a tuk-tuk to reach the jetty (approx. 30 mins) and then a cruise on a longboat upstream the Lay Myo river.

Along the river, you will see the local life: kids playing and swimming, women washing clothes, and men fishing.

Not much is known about the origins of the face-tattoo tradition. Some people believe that it started as a mean to protect Chin girls from kidnappings or forced marriages to kings. Others say woman got a face-tattoo before getting married, to show her true love to the future husband. A lot of the tattoos were made in an early age, between the age of 7 – 12. The whole tattooed face could be complete in a day and a half. It was a very painful prosedure and girls suffered terribly, especially the tender eyelid area. It is possible to tell where a female comes from based on her tattoo pattern since each area of Chin tribe has its own distinctive tattoo pattern.

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