Ban Rak Thai is a small village located at the highest point of Mae Hong Son province (Thailand). It is 1,800 meters above sea level with a population of about 1,000 people. Only 2 km from the Myanmar border, the population here is mainly Chinese immigrants from neighboring countries. The name Ban Rak Thai can be understood as "those who love Thailand" as expressing the affection of the community of children living abroad who came here to settle down, live and gradually become attached to the land of their birth.
The land is gradually being discovered
From Chiang Mai to Ban Rak Thai is a 251 km long pass, you can travel by motorbike or van. There is an interesting thing that I know, Ban Rak Thai is actually only a new tourist destination known in recent years because of its isolated geographical location. But because of that, Ban Rak Thai has surprised many people with its pristine beauty.
Ban Rak Thai is located at the highest point of Mae Hong Son province.
The soil here is suitable for growing tea. That was also the livelihood of the villagers before tourism developed. Surrounding the village are green tea hills, interspersed with houses with Chinese architecture. Because, living here are mainly Chinese immigrants. Chinese is also the main language here. Later, the younger generation can speak Thai, so don't be too surprised when you stand in the land of golden temples but the atmosphere is very Chinese.
Dividing the village is a large lake that is calm all year round. Locals quickly realized the lake’s appeal to tourists and a service was established to take visitors around the village in antique-style boats.
It is also not surprising that most of the dining places here are influenced by the culinary style of the country of a billion people. Restaurants serve Cantonese dishes, on the typical round tables that can be found in any Chinese restaurant.
Authentic Chinese food right in Thailand.
It is difficult to demand that a new tourist destination like Ban Rak Thai must have all the high-end services like other tourist cities in Thailand, but the people still keep up with the needs of tourists, opening experience services, dining, shopping and accommodation. The accommodation in Ban Rak Thai only meets homestay standards but has never been empty of customers since it first became famous.
Here, you have to book a room 6 months to 1 year in advance with prices ranging from 1,200 baht to 6,000 baht (about 800,000 VND to 4 million VND)/room/night, but it is extremely difficult because booking a room here must be done directly with the accommodation facility and not through any online booking site.
Homestays on the hill with panoramic views of the village.
And so, at the end of the year, thousands of visitors flock to Ban Rak Thai, hoping to find a brief moment of peace and quiet before returning to their daily lives. A friend of mine who visited Ban Rak Thai when it was still an unknown village said that things have changed quite a bit.
The simple, desolate landscape is now covered with a layer of bright colors, full of vitality. The streets are now always crowded and bustling like a festival, not compensating for the quiet atmosphere of the past. But despite so many changes, from within Ban Rak Thai, expressed through the lifestyle, through the nature of the farmers, the simplicity and rusticity of the village after all this time has never changed.
Land of peace
Mornings in Ban Rak Thai seem to pass more slowly than usual. You can start your day here when the first rays of sunlight pour through the window. Homestays on the tea hills can help you have a panoramic view of the village. When the tea leaves shake off the evening mist, the lake is still calm, waiting for the mist to dissipate. With such a beautiful scene, you cannot "sleep in" for another minute because the moment of dawn comes in just a split second.
The tea hill is a famous check-in spot for tourists when coming to Ban Rak Thai.
You can sip a cup of tea, the kind of tea produced right on this land, eat some white porridge that the homestay prepares for you and then go out to explore the village.
The best thing about Ban Rak Thai is that you can go to every corner by walking, slowly watching the movements around you. Maybe that is why everything here flows very leisurely.
Chinese-style houses are interspersed on the tea hills.
Visitors coming here will love to rent a boat to enjoy the scenery or sit in any cafe with a view of the lake, enjoying the scenery while chatting. In the afternoon, you can continue to walk up the tea hills, see how people cultivate and buy fragrant tea packages to bring home as gifts.
At night, the village becomes as sparkling as a festival night thanks to the colorful lanterns. The light reflects on the shimmering lake surface, making the space bright and brilliant. On the lake shore, restaurants begin to welcome customers. Families flock to the restaurant without stopping. Group after group, sitting next to each other at round tables covered with red napkins, laughing and chatting.
Evening view at Ban Rak Thai.
A day at Ban Rak Thai passes by "boringly" like that, yet every winter tourists flock here to relax for weeks.
Information about Ban Rak Thai:
- Ban Rak Thai is located in Mae Hong Son province, 251 km from Chiang Mai province.
- Ban Rak Thai can be reached by van or motorbike.
- Accommodation at Ban Rak Thai must be booked at least 6 months in advance and costs from 1,200 baht - 6,000 baht/night during peak periods.
- Boat service at Ban Rak Thai costs 400 baht/boat, carrying up to 4 people.
- Ban Rak Thai is famous for:
- Tea hills at Lee Wine Resort
- Boat ride on the lake at Lee Wine Coffee
- Lee Wine Restaurant
