Lamphun, Northern Thailand

When it comes to Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Pai (in Mae Hong Son province) are generally at the top of travelers' dream destination list. However, the North has ample more to offer, and ancient Lamphun is definitely one of the most precious hidden gems.

Located just less than an hour away from Chiang Mai, this cozy small town is big when it comes to unique cultural heritages that range from golden Lanna temples to tribal looming centers. For locals, Lamphun is synonymous with longans, so foodies should definitely keep an eye out for local restaurants with longan-based dishes. In fact, you can expect even the unexpected like a restaurant that dishes up scrumptious noodles made with this signature fruit.

In addition to these charms, Lamphun promises a tranquil, friendly and peaceful ambience. It's a perfect combination for those seeking to escape big city buzz. Check out these top things to do in Lamphun, Thailand, and enjoy authentic local experiences before the rest of the world catches on.

1. Dip in the 7-tiered Koh Luang Waterfall where the water color changes with seasons

Literally and figuratively a hidden gem, Koh Luang Waterfall is part of Mae Ping National Park, an immense verdant area encompassing Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Tak provinces. Located 20 km away from the national park center, the undisturbed Koh Luang Waterfall stuns nature lovers with its serene greenish-blue water and myriads of fishes.

20 metres in height, the falling streams wash down 7 levels before hitting the blue bowl. In addition, amateur spelunkers can admire the stalagmites and stalactites on this limestone wonder.

In summer (mid February-May) the water is turquoise, while when it’s colder (November-February) it turns cerulean. During the rainy season, though, it’s cloudy green and visitors might not be allowed to take a dip for safety reasons.

It’s worth noting that you’ll be required to put life jacket on while in the magical blue. The waterfall water tends to be cold and potential cramps can do in even the best swimmers.

2. Go vegetarian at Baan Phra Bat Huay Tom and learn about the tribal Karen's simple yet serene lifestyle

Like Koh Luang Waterfall, the Karen village Baan Huay Tom is located in Amphoe Li (Li District), around a one and a half hour away from Lamphun’s central district. Here, the 2,000 Karen villagers eat vegetarian and run a local textile center, keeping their traditional backstrap looming art alive.

Backstrap looming is fascinating. The weaver wears a looming belt made of leather or thick cloth and controls the strings by moving her body. Some South American countries like Guatemala and Peru also see this awe-inspiring art.

But what sets one country’s art piece from each other is the unique textile prints and techniques lovingly curated and passed down through generations.

What adds to this village’s charms is that the villagers wake up early every morning to give alms to the monks. And if you happen to be there on a Buddhist holy day where most locals take a day off from work, don’t miss the chance to join them on the offering ritual (Sangkatarn) at the serene Phra Bat Huay Tom Temple. What marks their ritual as ultimately unique from the rest of Thailand is that even the offerings to monks are vegetables.

3. Marvel at the golden Lanna heritage – Wat Phra That Hariphunchai

This opulent golden pagoda is authentically Lanna and houses parts of the Buddha’s skull bone. Legend has it that an ancient king had his men build a palace and a toilet on the temple’s current spot. He was plagued by a crow every time he set foot around there. Furious and annoyed, he finally had the crow captured.

Later in his dream, an angel clued him in on what to do. The king was advised to put a 7-day old baby with the crow. 9 years later and having mastered the crow’s jargon, the child lifted the lid on the fact that beneath the palace lies the Buddha’s relics.

The devout king was astonished and had the toilet uprooted, replaced the land with more fertile soil and held a worship ceremony.

4. Munch your way through Lamphun at its 2 main local markets

Though she be but little (town), she is fierce (when it comes to food). If you are a foodie you know to eat where the locals eat. Here in Lamphun, these 2 main markets brim with reasonably-priced Thai and Northern Thai street food and the locals living up the cozy small-town vibe.

1) Nong Dok Market (All Night Market)

Apart from snacks, main dishes and desserts, feast your eyes on the vibrant assortments of chilies, eggs, and other tropical raw ingredients. From midnight to around 5 a.m., wholesale buyers come here to shop for what they need the following morning.

2) Wat Chai Chanuek Market

Where the locals go to get their cheap and delicious grub.

5. Explore Luang Pa Wiang Cave

Dubbed Tum Lhuang in Northern Thai dialect (Tum – cave, Lhuang – big), this huge limestone cave has long been revered by Thais. The vast natural gem is filled with stalagmites and stalactites, divided into 9 rooms, and equipped with lights and hold rails for spelunkers’ safety. Inside the trove sit Buddha and other religious sculptures of various sizes.

6. Sunrise chasers and adventurers, catch the sunrise, hike or camp at Doi Khun Tan National Park

This national park is a true natural hidden gem even to Thais. Escape the crowd at the sought-after hills and head straight up this tranquil mountain. 

For those craving an overnight dose of fresh air, stay at the national park’s bungalows or pitch your own tent under the stars.

Admission fee costs 100 baht for adults and 50 baht for children. The park is open daily from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. Find out more about the park’s regulations at doikhuntan@gmail.com.

7. Take a train through Thailand’s longest railway tunnel, Khun Tan Railway Tunnel

Located nearby the national park yet better known, Khun Tan Railway Tunnel traverses a gigantic mountain between Lamphun and Lampang. Not only is it Thailand’s longest railway tunnel, it also took the longest – 14 years – to build.

Though the scenery around the tunnel is lovely, the history behind it is not.

With no drilling machines, the backbreaking work was carried out by opium-fueled Chinese laborers, as the substance grants a superhuman ability to breathe underground for 8 hours per day.

As for the construction part, Isaan (Thai Northeasterners) slaves broke their neck on the project to save up and buy their freedom.

Ride the train and learn about the local life around Khun Tan area with our Local Expert here: Choo Choo Riding Train to the Longest Railway Tunnel in Thailand

8. Savor longan-based dishes and visit longan farm

Longan is Lamphun’s signature fruit and thus ubiquitous. Thanks to the local savoir-faire, this sweet and juicy fruit has been a staple to the province’s renowned restaurants. One of them is Longan Noodles, where the fruit is braised in the soup and yields a tantalizing scent and taste without spoiling the dish profile. The restaurant also boasts its very own Longan and Pumpkin Salapao (Chinese Steamed Bun) – a recipe you won’t find anywhere else even in Bangkok’s Chinatown.

Another small town charm Lamphun has on offer is this home-style longan farm. The owner, Khun Fai, will be more than happy to welcome you. She’ll also take you to one of the most beautiful temples in Thailand, Wat San Pa Yang Luang.

But that’s not all. As our Local Expert will also offer you a seat at her garden restaurant and homemade local Northern Thai dishes at her very own table. The scrumptious nosh includes Northern Thai Omelet Grilled in Banana Leaves and the rare Sticky Rice with Longans and Coconut Cream. Look up more details of the trip here.

Aspiring chefs can also enjoy a lesson the northerners' way. Come learn how to make your favorite Khanom Jeen Nam Ngiao (Fermented Rice Noodles with Spicy Pork Soup) and a savory Sticky Rice with Longan with our Local Expert Khun Kim. See more details here.

That’s it for things to do in Lamphun, Thailand, but that’s not all you can do on your journey. Combine your visit to Lamphun with trips to other charming cities in Northern Thailand.

Welcome to Amazing Thailand – Open to the New Shades. This is your ultimate Thailand travel guide, off-the-beaten-track edition. Go local and explore Thailand through new perspectives. Open your heart and mind… to the shades of Thailand that you never knew exist!

The post Top Things to Do in Lamphun, Thailand: Less Than 1hr from Chiang Mai with Turquoise Waterfall and Tribal Karen Village appeared first on Amazing Thailand.

Thai textiles began as a way of life and over time, they have become arts. Handwoven and hand-dyed, these textiles require high level of skills and painstaking attention to detail. They also empower women as they play a key role in handcrafting Thai textiles.

Each kind of textile differs, from pattern designs to weaving and dyeing techniques. To learn more about them, it’s best to go straight to the sources: the weaving villages and groups. This way, you can support the locals and keep these art forms alive. 

9 Weaving Groups and Villages for Thai Textile Lovers

1. Ban Nong Ngueak in Lamphun, Northern Thailand

For over 200 years, the heritage of cotton weaving in Ban Nong Ngueak has been preserved. This is where Yong people (an ethnic group from Myanmar) settled and they have been passing down their weaving techniques for generations.

Apart from high-quality products, which range from modern dresses to pillowcases and curtains, Ban Nong Ngueak has unique looms that can be used by two people at once. These lover looms were used by the husband and the wife in order to produce larger pieces. With lover looms, the husband got to work and stay in the village with his wife. You can still try weaving with lover looms at the village.

2. Pua in Nan, Northern Thailand

In addition to rice, Tai Lue culture thrives in Pua as it’s where they first settled in Nan. One of the most interesting characteristics of Tai Lue culture is that women must learn to weave.

Tai Lue women in Thailand use a special technique called Tapestry Weaving (Lai Nam Lai), using their fingers to interlace the colorful cotton threads and create highly intricate patterns. The results look like water flowing, hence the name Lai Nam Lai, which means literally that. Today you can still admire the art of traditional Tai Lue-style weaving and also buy the handmade products in Pua, especially at Lamduan Textile.

Discover other things to do in Nan, Thailand.

3. Ban Thung Hong in Phrae, Northern Thailand

You might remember Thailand’s classic indigo farmer shirts and pants, but did you know that these traditional clothes or Mo Hom are from Ban Thung Hong? Hom is the name of the plant for Mo Hom indigo dye. From weaving to dyeing, you can learn the whole process of Mo Hom production or even design and make your own costume at this village. The locals at Ban Thung Hong Village are creative and have branched out into other products like Mo Hom bags, umbrellas and etc.

Discover other things to do in Phrae, Thailand.

4. Ban Hat Siew in Sukhothai, Northern Thailand

Known for colorful patterns, Ban Hat Siew textiles are Tai Phuan local wisdom, ethnic people who migrated from Laos. All Tai Phuan women learn to weave before they turn 16, so they create their own patterned sinh (a kind of sarong) for ceremonial use. Ceremonial sinh is called Pha Sinh Teen Chok in Thai.

The difference from other kinds of sinh is that, each Pha Sinh Teen Chok is divided into not three but four parts: the head, the body, the foot and the special part that’s connected to the foot part. This extra part is the most beautiful part of Pha Sinh Teen Chok and the villagers of Ban Hat Siew use porcupine quill in the patterning process.

5. Ban Phon in Kalasin, Northeastern Thailand

Among a variety of silk fabrics in Thailand, Phrae Wa silk of Ban Phon is the Queen of Silk and probably the most famous. A handicraft by Phu Tai women, it’s the same fabrics used for draping Northeastern Thai women’s shoulders. Fusing the khit technique for embossed patterns and the chok technique for colorful patterns, Phrae Wa silk is exceptionally beautiful.

Red was the most common dye for Phrae Wa silk, but now the locals use other colors for more variety. From pink and purple to blue and green, Phrae Wa silk has become more colorful than ever.

6. Wat That Prasit Handicraft Center in Nakhon Phanom, Northeastern Thailand

When the late King Rama IX and the Queen visited the community, they received the local Mudmee ikat silk as a gift and saw its potential. Therefore, Wat That Prasit Handicraft Center was established as a royal initiative to help the locals earn more income outside the agricultural seasons and better their quality of life.

Since then the locals have been developing their Mudmee silk weaving and natural dyeing techniques.  

7. Ban Non Rua in Sakon Nakhon, Northeastern Thailand

Thai textiles have many shades. Even the shades of indigo-dyed fabrics vary. Unlike Mo Hom of Ban Thung Hong in Phrae, indigo of the clothes in Sakon Nakhon comes from the plant kram instead of hom. The village Ban Non Rua is especially famous for their indigo-dyed fabrics, but there are many Sakon Nakhon villages where the kram heritage is alive. Take for example Mae Thita (The movie Troy featured their indigo-dyed clothes) and Ban Tham Tao (The locals plant and produce more kram dye than anywhere in Sakon Nakhon). Each village has its own style and the locals are still developing their techniques even today.

Experience hands-on indigo dyeing with the local gurus. You'll learn the regional art step by step and go home with your very own indigo-dyed piece, a real heart-made and handmade souvenir from Thailand. Read more here.

Sakon Nakhon and its dyeing tradition also has a lot to do with buffaloes, Isaan's signature animal. Our Local Expert also lets you befriend the adorable cattle and discover how they help the locals craft up their tie-dyed products. You will get to make your own tie-dyed t-shirt and taste authentic Isaan food too. Read more here.

Discover other things to do in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand.

8. Ban Tha Sawang in Surin, Northeastern Thailand

Pha Yok Thong is a very special kind of silk. It was chosen as the shirt and shawl material for global leaders who participated in the 2003 APEC in Thailand. This top-notch silk originated at Ban Tha Sawang in Surin.

The beautiful village features not only traditional wooden houses but also a museum that exhibits silk fabrics with ancient Thai patterns. Naga holding Garuda, Thepphanom (temple guardian angels with their hands at the wai position) and so on. 

9. Ban Na Meun Sri in Trang, Southern Thailand

Ban Na Meun Sri women weave their own fabrics for important occasions in their lives: their wedding, their son’s ordination and their funeral. The 200-year-old craftsmanship almost died out due to the lack of material during the World War II and industrialization of weaving.

Fortunately, the elder in the village initiated the preservation of their traditional weaving and their successors have established Ban Na Meun Sri weaving group. Red fabrics with yellow patterns are the most common, but many unique patterns are available. From doll pattern to Constitution Monument pattern. Over 100 beautiful handwoven fabrics are on display at the museum.

Discover other things to do in Trang, Thailand.

Welcome to Amazing Thailand – Open to the New Shades. This is your ultimate Thailand travel guide, off-the-beaten-track edition. Go local and explore Thailand through new perspectives. Open your heart and mind… to the shades of Thailand that you never knew exist!

The post Thai Textiles: Where to Explore the Art of Thai Weaving and Dyeing appeared first on Amazing Thailand.