When talking about Thailand, tourists often think of the bustling capital Bangkok or the peaceful, romantic Chiang Mai. However, few people know that in the far north of Thailand there is a place surrounded by hills and tea plantations, wooden houses close together and a cool climate all year round.
Mae Hong Son is covered in a green coat of nature, every corner of this land is the fresh breath of the mountains and forests. Surrounded by high mountains, 80% of Mae Hong Son's area is primeval forests covered in mist all year round. This is a suitable destination for those who love nature and the simple, rustic features of a peaceful rural lifestyle.
Surrounded by rolling hills, Mae Hong Son has a cool climate all year round. It is also known as Da Lat or Sa Pa in Vietnam. Therefore, tourists can visit Mae Hong Son at any time of the year without worrying about the rainy season. However, from February to June is the time when most traditional festivals take place. In particular, April 13-15 every year is the traditional New Year in Thailand - Songkran.
Mae Hong Son: home of ethnic minorities
Mae Hong Son is located in the northern mountains of Thailand, not far from Chiang Mai city. The province was part of the ancient Lannathai Kingdom as well as the Kingdom of Myanmar. The strong Myanmar influence can be seen in the architectural style of the buildings and temples. Today, Mae Hong Son is home to the Padung people. The Padung are a tribe that wears brass necklaces. In 1985-1986, due to the development of tourism, they moved to the Thai-Myanmar border area, living in Mae Hong Son province until today.
In addition, about 63% of the province's population are mountainous ethnic minorities, including: Hmong, Dao, La Hu, Lisu, Akha and Karen, San Chay. The population density of this province is the lowest among the provinces of Thailand and is also the province with the smallest population in Thailand.
Padung community in Mae Hong Son.
View from Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu temple.
Beautiful natural scenery in Mae Hong Son.
In particular, in Mae Hong Son province of Thailand, you will meet beautiful girls with 4-fold necks and record-long necklaces. From a very young age, Padung ethnic girls have to wear a necklace around their necks. Depending on their age, the number of necklaces increases. The special thing is that no one feels uncomfortable wearing them, but on the contrary, they are very proud of this unique cultural feature.
According to Padung custom, from the age of 5, a girl must wear a set of nine rings. After 4 years, the set of nine rings is changed, and so on on 9 different occasions. The last change is when the woman is 45 years old. The number of rings and their weight depends on the girl's choice, the maximum is 32 rings with a total weight of 13-15 kg.
Tourist attractions in Mae Hong Son
Coming to Mae Hong Son, visitors seem to be lost in another world. A world rich in national identity. This place attracts tourists with Burmese-style temples, hot springs, unspoiled villages, national parks and interesting experiences, especially the joyful annual festivals.
Located on a hill west of the city, Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu is famous as a sacred temple of Mae Hong Son, which not only attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world but is also a symbolic landmark of Mae Hong Son city in particular and the land of pagodas in general.
Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu was built in 1860, under the direction of Jong Dong Su and Shan Merchant - a high-ranking official of Mae Hong Son. Located about 3 km from the town center, after reaching the foot of the hill, visitors can walk to the top or take the 300-step staircase. From an altitude of 1,300 m, the temple allows visitors to take in the whole view of the city.
Night market in Mae Hong Son.
Houses built on the hills in Mae Hong Son.
Tourists pose by Chong Kham Lake
In Mae Hong Son, visitors are almost never far from nature. You can enjoy the fresh air and see rows of green trees everywhere. And if you want to immerse yourself in village life, you must visit Sutongpe Bridge and the fish cave at Ban Kungmaisak Moo.
Sutongpe is a bamboo bridge that stretches across the fields, located in a small, peaceful village of Mae Hong Son. Surrounded by lush green mountains and lush rice fields, visitors can also visit the ancient town of Ban Rak Thai, the sacred Wat Chong Kham, Pang Ung Lake or the local people-watching trails in Mae Hong Son town.
