The land of "those who love Thailand"

Ban Rak Thai is a small village located at the highest point of Mae Hong Son province (Thailand). It sits 1,800 meters above sea level and has a population of approximately 1,000 people. Situated just 2 km from the Myanmar border, its inhabitants are primarily ethnic Chinese immigrants from neighboring Myanmar. The name Ban Rak Thai can be interpreted as "those who love Thailand," reflecting the affection of this community of expatriates who came here to settle and gradually became attached to their homeland.

The land is gradually being explored.

The journey from Chiang Mai to Ban Rak Thai is a 251 km long mountain pass, accessible by motorbike or van. Interestingly, I learned that Ban Rak Thai is actually a relatively new tourist destination, discovered only in recent years due to its isolated location. However, it is precisely this isolation that has surprised many with its pristine beauty.

The soil here is suitable for growing tea. This was the livelihood of the villagers before tourism developed. Surrounding the village are lush green tea hills, interspersed with houses featuring Chinese architecture. This is because the majority of the inhabitants are Chinese immigrants. Chinese is also the main language spoken here. Later generations began to speak Thai, so don't be surprised to find yourself in the land of temples but with a very Chinese atmosphere.

Dividing the village in two is a large, perpetually calm lake. Locals quickly recognized the lake's charm for tourists, and thus a service offering tours of the village in traditional-style boats was born.

It's also no surprise that most of the eateries here are influenced by the culinary style of the world's most populous country. Restaurants serve Cantonese dishes, served on the characteristic round tables found in almost any Chinese restaurant.

It's difficult to expect a new tourist destination like Ban Rak Thai to have all the high-end services of other Thai tourist cities, but the locals have kept up with the needs of tourists, opening up experiential services, dining, shopping, and even accommodation. Accommodation options in Ban Rak Thai, even those only meeting homestay standards, have never been short of guests since it first became popular.

Here, you have to book rooms 6 months to 1 year in advance, with prices ranging from 1,200 baht to 6,000 baht (approximately 800,000 to 4,000,000 VND) per room per night. However, it's extremely difficult because bookings must be made directly with the accommodation provider, not through any online booking websites.

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 once simple and desolate landscape is now covered in vibrant colors, brimming with life. The streets are now bustling and lively, like a festival, a stark contrast to the quiet atmosphere of the past. But despite all the changes, the essence of Ban Rak Thai, reflected in the way of life and the nature of its farmers, remains unchanged after all this time.

A land of peace

Mornings in Ban Rak Thai seem to pass more slowly than usual. You can start your day here as the first rays of sunlight stream through the window. Homestays atop the tea hills offer panoramic views of the village. As the tea leaves shake off the evening mist, the lake remains tranquil, waiting for the fog to dissipate. Faced with such breathtaking scenery, you can't possibly sleep in for another minute, because the moment of sunrise is fleeting.

You can sip a cup of tea, freshly produced right here, enjoy some plain rice porridge prepared by the homestay, and then head out to explore the village.

What I love most about Ban Rak Thai is that you can explore every corner on foot, slowly observing the movements around you. Perhaps that's why everything here seems to flow so leisurely.

Visitors here will enjoy renting boats to admire the scenery or sitting in any café with a view of the lake, enjoying the view while chatting. In the afternoon, you can continue strolling up the tea hills, watching how the locals cultivate their crops and buying fragrant tea packages to take home as souvenirs.

By evening, the village glowed like a festival night thanks to the colorful lanterns. The light reflected on the shimmering lake, illuminating the space brilliantly. On the lakeshore, restaurants began to welcome customers. Families streamed into the restaurants without interruption. Group after group sat together at round tables covered with red tablecloths, chatting and laughing merrily.

A day in Ban Rak Thai passes by so uneventfully, yet tourists flock here every winter for weeks at a time.

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 in Ban Rak Thai must be booked at least 6 months in advance and costs between 1,200 and 6,000 baht per night during peak season.
• Boat rides in Ban Rak Thai cost 400 baht per boat, carrying a maximum of 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

Le Ho Uy Di