November 2024: the museum is dying. No visitors, all dusty, no audio guide is available. No site map. Toilet is awful, not maintained. Sad. The idea of the museum is great, the exhibitions are amazing , very interesting. Probably lack of money makes this museum stagnant

Went there 30 minutes before closing time. This is quite a big place so 30 minutes is definitely not enough to truly appreciate the exhibits.

One of the best museum we have been to! A lot of useful information about the ethenic groups in Vietnam. Highly recommended!

Been excited to learn more about Vietnams ethnic minorities - large museum with a lot of information and artifacts. Paid extra for English audio only to learn it’s an app you have to download and the wifi doesn’t work inside… skip it, there are English descriptions inside on everything. One of the strangest museum experiences I’ve had as it was very hot inside and out and we were the only ones visiting at that time, giving all the mannequins an extremely eerie vibe.

Great museum to visit. sadly there are not many visitors here, I went there on Sat and there are no one except for me and my friends in the museum. The museum is well presented with informative knowledge of 54 ethics groups of VN. Highly recommend to go here and experience

Good information to visit except it was too hot

One of my favorite places in Thai Nguyen. My favorite Vietnamese foods are at their best here. Not to mention that all of this is in the midst of fantastic outdoor museum grounds highlighting Vietnamese ethnic cultures. Visit and enjoy it all.

Need to stay here a few nights, nice and cool.

came all the way to tam dao for the national park but was greatly disappointed. walked about 800m in to reach a “security post” where it was just one lady mending it & she didn’t allow us in saying we needed advanced registration. but there was absolutely no one there. horrible experience

Xa Huong lake in Tam Dao national park is tranquil and picturesque. You can hike for 2 hours (around 6 km) to reach the stream and a flat land for camping.

As same as Sapa, the weather in here so magical. We can see thick fog everywhere, it comes down and lifts suddenly. In this weather, that very suitable to walk throught the light wind or stay in door in the pub to watch the people walk by the window.. Be sure to bring for you some liqueur, enjoy the music and relax for a while.No one will hurry you!

Tam Dao it is good!!

Just a place to visit in a day. When i was there it was too foggy, so the place is kind of Ok. Not great.. but you can explore some exotic forest foods in the resturants.

Sight seeing with lots of fun activities available... It is in center of the hill station surrounded by All hotels and restraurants, and even by hills.. must go place Beautifully designed.. Local vietnamese food is also available... One important thing.. only one atm is available near park.. another is very far 2-3 km down to this place.. so please keep some cash before coming this place...

We enjoyed our time in Ba Vi National Park . We hired a tour guide but that wasn’t necessary. You just need a way to get there. We just did the walks with the stairs (about 1200 on one side and about 650 on the other) so you can definitely get a great work out. There are several temples along the way up that are active. It’s so impressive how many people walk up to make offerings and pray.

Nice park for a weekend wander and some ok trail running - best run is still up the main road to the french runs and the mountain temple. The park is still wild in some places - nice to be in nature and close to the city.

Excellent day hike approximately 65 km from French Quarter in Hanoi. I enjoyed the clean air on a foggy morning. There were very few people and vehicles as I walked up the road and then took the trails to the old prison and the church ruins. It is a rain forest in parts... could hear the rain falling in the deep forest- but it was not raining on me - very peaceful. It was a slippery day and I was happy I brought some hiking sticks... definitely worth the trip 👌

Ba Vì National Park is an ideal destination for nature lovers and explorers. It offers a refreshing green space, fresh air, and a diverse ecosystem. Visitors can explore notable sites such as Thượng Temple, the Ancient Church, or conquer the Tản Viên Peak. Especially in late autumn, the blooming wild sunflowers make the landscape even more vibrant. However, the entrance fee does not quite match the deteriorating road conditions, as some areas have landslides and large sinkholes. Additionally, the shops around the area have very high prices, so visitors should prepare their supplies in advance to avoid buying them on-site.

It's national park in the mountain. There is the gate and ticket counter in the beginning. They charge 60K for entrance, and 10K for parking? at 1100m points? Anyway on the way of heading to the 1100m point, there are some view points. It's high enough to see all landview from the mountain. It's worth to come here even just driving. Anyway please be carefull. It was very cold on the top of the mountain. You should bring your jacket here. I visited May 2025. It was cold on top. By the way, there is a shop at the 1100m point, so good to have Hao Hao noodle there Lol.

The road access to the National Park is under construction, but if you go at lunchtime, when all the workers are eating or sleeping, there will be no delays. Beautiful place, I went there to get off the beaten track and not have to hear motorcycles and cars driving and Honking. ( it’s about an hour away from Hanoi. )

We had up-and-down emotion to get to the Bavi National Park and I will summarize as belows: - Up to the elevation 400m, road is terrible due to road maintenance. We had to wait for 10 min for a concrete truck to work across the road. It is so crowded and dusty without any warning in the beginning of the road. - From elevation 400m to 700m, a quite good road to go will full of plants around. - From elevation 700m to 1100m, a high slope can make your brake broken down when going down. Be careful with this popular problem there. We also made that similar difficulty and a little bit scary to go down. On the cote 1100, it is so special to see the fog and clouds going around. A good moment to enjoy the travel. Note that you will buy a ticket at the foot of the park, vnd 60k per person excluded your vehicle fee. Lưu ý rất dễ mất phanh khi đi xuống từ cao độ 1100m đến 700m vì đường rất dốc. Nên chuẩn bị sẵn số điện thoại trong trường hợp cần cứu hộ xe.

Ok

(Translated by Google) Muong village community tourism with a complex of many old stilt houses (Original) Du lịch cộng đồng bản Mường với quần thể nhiều nhà sàn cũ

(Translated by Google) About 10km from Hoa Binh City, the small village is relatively clean, there are a few homestays for picnics if you want to stay overnight. Food must be brought or ordered in front of the villagers' house. Should experience it on the weekend. (Original) Cách Tp Hoà Bình khoảng 10km,bản nhỏ tương đối sạch sẽ,có một vài home stay cho chuyến dã ngoại nếu muốn ở lại qua đêm. Đồ ăn phải mang theo hoặc đặt trước nhà dân bản. Nên trải nghiệm vào cuối tuần.

(Translated by Google) More than 10km from Hoa Binh City, the village is small, there are a few home stays for tourists who want to stay overnight, the animals here are very friendly. Food must be brought or ordered in advance Worth experiencing. (Original) Cách Tp Hoà Bình hơn 10km,bản nhỏ, có một vài home stay cho du khách muốn qua đêm, động vật ở đây rất thân thiện Đồ ăn phải mang theo hoặc đặt trước Đáng để trải nhiệm.

(Translated by Google) The people in Mo hamlet are very enthusiastic and friendly, the stilt houses are clean and cool, the view of mountains, forests, and terraced fields is super beautiful. Delicious food suitable for both adults and children (Original) Người dân ở xóm Mỗ rất nhiệt tình, thân thiện, nhà sàn thì sạch sẽ mát mẻ, view núi rừng, ruộng bậc thang siêu đẹp. Đồ ăn ngon phù hợp cho cả người lớn và trẻ nhỏ

(Translated by Google) Muong ethnic village, beautiful nature should come to experience once when coming to Hoa Binh (Original) Làng dân tộc Mường, thiên nhiên đẹp nên đến để trải nghiệm một lần khi đến Hoà Bình

(Translated by Google) Simple food, easy to eat, friendly people (Original) Đồ ăn dân dã, dễ ăn, nguời dân thân thiện

No admission fees but you need to know where to go. LOL. We were so fortunate to meet with the tea plantation owners today!! They spent hours chatting with us about the oolong tea harvesting and processing and the growth of the plantation over the past 25 years. The oolong tea here are shipped to Taiwan, where then repackaged, rebranded and shipped to Japan and Europe. We got to taste test four different types of oolong teas. There are about ten different types that are grown here and are harvested at four different times a year. Best oolong teas we ever had!! We bought different teas to bring back home as gifts. The wife walked us to many beautiful spots around the plantation and took many beautiful pictures for us. Both husband and wife were super sweet and friendly!! So grateful for their hospitality!!!

Great place! You can drive to the top of the tea fields

An Oolong tea plantation that mainly exports to Taiwan and Japan. The owner, Phu Hau, welcomed us warmly even though we walked in without any prior reservation. He was really happy and enthusiastic to share with us his passion for Oolong tea, and how he built up the business 30 years ago from a dream that started from a trip to Taiwan, to 3 plantations covering a total of 175 hectares today! He also let us try for free all the different types of Oolong tea that they produce, some of which were not even for sale, all without trying to get us to buy anything. It will be easier to converse with him if you can speak Vietnamese or Mandarin.

One way to describe the experience here would be "Fine wine philosophy applied to tea production". The owners have been tilling this land for over 2 decades and the hard work and dedication shine through the quality of their product. Operating to a self imposed, strict and very high standard, you can feel their genuine passion, respect and love for the tea plants and the land upon which they grow. Their tea varieties are second to none when it comes to taste and aroma. What makes this place truly stand out for anyone, not just tea buffs, is the true hospitality and kindness of the people, the priceless knowledge and wisdom they impart.

It's amzing hills of tea & friendly minorities with food and leizures & lands of flowers in all four seasons during the year The weather is so nice at any time of the year and during the day!

Amazing experience with friendly owner. He has won multiple awards in Taiwan and China . As a tea enthusiast, I find him very knowledgable in the types of Tea leaves and brewing methods.

Tea tasting, mountain views, looked at the tea drying process

🌸 Message of Appreciation for Our Guide, Ms. Nia Nghia (Zonitrip) 🌸 We are a group of seven friends who recently completed a Ha Giang Hiking Trip in Vietnam with Zonitrip, and we feel truly fortunate to have Ms. Nia Nghia as our guide. Nia is an exceptional guide — proactive, cheerful, and full of humor. She knows her job very well and always takes the initiative to check with locals whenever she’s unsure about something. Throughout our journey, she anticipated challenges ahead and was always there to lend a helping hand. Though petite in size, Nia is full of energy and enthusiasm, even after a long day of trekking! What impressed us most is her deep passion for her work. Along the way, she shared with great warmth and insight about the history, culture, and traditions of the different ethnic groups we encountered. Her passion and compassion made our trip not only fun but also meaningful. We are deeply grateful for her dedication and care. We will definitely return to Vietnam — and when we do, we’ll be sure to have Nia as our guide again! Highly recommended for anyone planning a Ha Giang adventure in Vietnam! 🇻🇳❤️

Had a smooth and lovely trip to Taxua mountain. Great communication with Nghia who was able to get all the transport / guide / accommodation in proper order. Zonihome is a lovely place to stay with their wonderful family and 3 dogs and 2 kitties. Lucky to have great weather to see the sea of clouds. Everyone should get in touch with Zonitrip if u are coming to Tram Tau Taxua!

One of The Most Memorable Parts of Our Trip! We absolutely LOVED this three day, two night trip with Nghia! We started from Hanoi and made our way up north to Mu Cang Chai. We spent the first day trekking to a tea farm up in the mountains and spent the first night at a homestay. We biked through rice fields, met locals and learned a lot about the community. We trekked up in Mu Chang Chai the second day via motorbike, walking and met locals, including our tour guide. As a traveler here, you need to be flexible and willing to experience the trip, even when the conditions aren't ideal. It rained some on the second day, and was very muddy, but I think that gave the day an even better memory. Our meals were also very yummy and we were able to experience all sorts of local delights.

The 4 days spent with the tour organized by Zonitrip were truly exceptional! We visited places that would otherwise have been impossible to visit independently. Everything organized to perfection, from the driver to the places to sleep, from meals with local food to overnight stays. A true immersion in Vietnamese culture and customs! If you also add friendliness, fun and wonderful evenings together to all this, this is ZoniTrip! Great! Thanks for everything

Nghia from Zonitrip tailored our 6 nights trip to North Vietnam to our needs. She knew the hikes and their rigor very well and she was very careful in planning our daily adventures. This was the BEST cultural experience for us and it was enlightening to visit authentic remote villages where no other tourists go!

Booked 1 day fanispan trekking for 2 pax with this company. guide and car picked us up at the hotel 7am, on time. guide and porter assigned to us named Susu/ Su was very good, took good care of us. Finished 12.2KM of trekking trail with good pace and sufficient rest stopps. Su also helped to carry 2 x 1.5L water, lunch, bananas and mandarin oranges. Pls tip ur porter/ guides generously, they work really hard.

“Very great trip to mount Fansipan !” 5 of 5 starsReviewed 5 days ago NEW Thanks Zonitrip for this great experience ! We climbed the mount Fansipan, the highest point in Vietnam. We were in Yen Bai which is 3hours from Hanoi by bus. Nghia organised everything for us, as dropped us on the Highway at midnight to catch the bus to Sapa ! We were only four in our group, and we started to hike the first day and we slept in the base camp (2800m). Good atmosphere and good people over there ! The guide cooked a great meal for us and we spent good time drinking some local alcohol and beers (you can find beers in the hut but you have to bring your own alcohol wink emoticon The day after we started to hike around 6.30am for 2 hours until the top of the Fansipan. Unfortunately it was really cloudy, like almost every day so no regrets ! We decided to go down by the cable car (600 000 dng) cause of the rain. We had time to visit around Sapa and to meet some locals before to take the bus. The city is really nice even if it's extremely touristy... We went back in Yen Bai around 8pm and Nghia was waiting for us with her husband to dropped us at home. That was 2 really nice days ! Thank you so much for everything ! I highly recommend Zonitrip !

Most interesting place, part of most important History where Vietnam fought and defeated the French Colonizers in 1954 to become Free and Independent of any Colonization. An absolute must to visit if you interested and respect Vietnamese History

A1 Hill is an important battlegrounds in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, and one of the famous historical relics of Dien Bien. Here you can see the command bunker, the bomb crater, French tank, tunnel system that were buit in the war between French and Vietnam.

A must part of the 1954 site seeing trail. Very easy to find as quite close to the main museum and military cemetery. The bunker network is quite well preserved as is the mine crater which finally helped the Viet Ming break through. If you visit here also make sure to also seek out hill Beatrice (a couple of miles north) which is even better preserved than A1 because it attracts fewer visitors.

Only 20k entrance fee this is a must see. I'm not sure if the trenches are based on real archaeology but it does enough to demonstrate the look of the outpost that many people died trying to take and hold.

Important historical spot of Dien Bien Phu war. Good for the local Vietnamese with tutorial service but not easy for foreigners to gain the piece of understanding. suggest visiting museum.

Should be combined with visit to Victory Museum (just over the road.)

Most things here and in war sites in Vietnam are reconstructed but it gives a broad impression of the war days. Interesting to see but you won't be blown away by it.

There’s not a lot here, it’s a bit cheeky they charge 20,000 each but it’s good for history buffs and anyone interested in learning about the fight for independence against the French.

(Translated by Google) Empty and refined, deserves a little interior furniture to recreate the realism of the period. Very qualitative from the outside, can be visited quickly. Opens at 1:30 p.m. (Original) Vide et épuré, mériterait un peu de mobiliers intérieurs pour recréer le réalisme de l’époque . Très qualitatif de l’extérieur, se visite rapidement. Ouvre à 13h30

As others mentioned, there's not a lot to see here and you'll be in and out within 10 mins. One of the stops along the history trail

It took me 2 hours to walk (during the day). There is a sign up the hill “camping not allowed without tour”. There was actually a tour so I was not allowed to sleep at the top so I walked 5 min. and pinched my tent on the trail (there are flat parts). Sunset was amazing. Entrance from the main road 50.000 Kib. People came also up from the other side (free entrance they said)

Amazing views. Worth the climb. Highly recommended to bring something against mosquitoes for the climate themselves and also for night. Also, the food that the guides make at the top is not so great, it would be better to just bring more food for dinner. The easiest way is just to book the trip through a local guide at the town.

We climbed this viewpoint separately from a tour and it was the best decision! We left around 4:10 in the morning and arrived at the top an hour later. It was not a difficult hike in the dark, we only had the flashlights of our smartphones and this was fine. The sunrise wasn’t that great when we went but still the views were gorgeous. We didn’t have to pay any fee to enter. Bonus tip: go for a delicious breakfast at Couleur Cafe afterwards - and take the breakfast set!! This was so good after the hike

Great hike and views, it took us about an hour and a half, slowly walking up. We started at around 8:30, was still cloudy but by the time we arrived clouds started to move away and we had great clear views.

A 90 minute uphill slog but very rewarding views. Not recommended after heavy rain.

50k entry. About 1 hr up and 45 min down. Bring a torch if you're coming down after sunset. Definitely worth it. Amazing 360 degree views

Very clean. Very peaceful. Only a handful of crowd - that too on a Sunday. Will take around 90 mins - 120 mins to hike up to the viewpoint. Can camp on top as well. But you will have to take permission earlier. Refer to pic uploaded by me for this location to see where you need to go for the required camping permissions.

We had a great day with the jungle fly zipline guys. They gave us enough time to do the ziplines and climbing things and helped us as much as we needed. It was a funny day with a lot of new experiences. We felt save and comfortable all the time. Everything was well organized. Also the boss of of this agency is polite and very helpful, because he helped us to organize a private car.

I did the half day zipline tour with them and it was a very good experience. I really enjoy my time during the activity and all the people from the staff was very nice. I highly recomend to do this activity if you go to Nong khiaw. Also the nature there is amazing, so it's the best place to do one activity like this!

One of my favourite place when i come to Oudomxay in the morning often come up to Pouthad to see the sun rise and the city it is such beautiful and relaxing

Hello, hello Leo here discover beautiful and useful places like this nice situated Wat with a fine view and wonderful motives around the sunset 🙂 The Buddha statue and the stupa in gold are fantastic sceneries if the last sunbeams touch them in golden light shining brights 😊 See self what you can enjoy in my following images a composition of light, shapes and sunbeams 😊 Highly recommended for nice evening get down place Leo 🙂

Basic temple with a very nice atmosphere. The climb up the hill was steep but very short. Can be done in 10 mins or so. Beautiful sunset.

Small Buddhist Monastery on the hill in Muang Xai following Theravada Buddhism.

Do not missed to visit.

Suggested Buddhist Temple (Wat) to visit

Very disappointing that they clearcut the lovely forest that was on the hill here. I regret donating money to this temple now.

Debating between 2/3 stars for this one. There were some great parts of this trip, and some really low lows so I'll elaborate a bit more below for anyone trying to decide what type of trip to go on: Context - we chose a 2 day/1 night Mountain Bike trip. We were here at the end of April/start of May. We booked the trip one day before via Whatsapp which was easy to arrange, and showed up early the next morning to get our bikes and pay. Pros - super easy to arrange. We were able to leave our big backpacks at the agency so we could just take smaller day packs for our ride. They provided lots of water for us to take with us. Our guide was super friendly, good guy, spoke good English and was able to tell us about the area. They accommodated our vegetarian diets, and the meals were delicious. We stayed in a small village at a "homestay", got a really authentic and unique experience. The chief of the village hosted us himself and we slept on a mattress on the floor in the same room as him and his wife. His wife cooked dinner and breakfast and even a takeaway lunch for us the next day. We got invited to a party at the school in the village, drank, and had a great time with the local villagers. Cons - when we asked how long the ride was expected to be, we weren't given a clear answer (which was ok, because we're competent bikers and were fine enough with the ambiguity). However, 8 miles in, our guide's bike broke so he could no longer shift, which meant he had to walk the uphill sections. Obviously this isn't his fault, but it became an important factor as the next 15 miles was going to be pretty much all uphill on muddy gravel. It turned out, none of our bikes were equipped to tackle how muddy the trail had become. Our first day ended up being half trek, half bike as the chain on my bike kept popping off, and our guide couldn't shift to get uphill on his. The second day, the downhills were again so muddy and slippery that it was dangerous to ride on, and uphill we were having too many technical issues until eventually while my partner was riding, the entire derailleur almost completely fell off (pics below). At this point, we were less than halfway back home, so our guide ended up trading bikes with us, and we rode his shiftless bike, while he walked our broken bike uphill, and then would ride without pedaling going downhill. We made it that way all the way back down the mountain until we got to pavement where we called the company to come pick us up. All this to say, it felt like a tour company should've had better foresight into the conditions of the roads and known that the bikes weren't equipped to handle such conditions. Our guide also should've called for a replacement bike as soon as his broke since we were still on pavement at that time and the issue had potential to be resolved. Instead the experience was a rather long and tiresome one, that resulted in two out of three broken bikes, a much harder than anticipated ride, and a shorter second day than planned. A little more information from the company, and better planning could've resulted in a much better trip. Sounds like the treks/kayaking are the way to go!

Thankyou Xai for an absolutely incredible experience, Xai & Mun have so much knowledge on the jungle and showed us how to forage different plants, food, and natural remedies. They really were the best guides, with kindness, care and incredible knowledge! The reason for the 4 stars is purely because the national park itself is lacking in wildlife and it shows☹️. If you are coming to immerse yourself in nature & local life this is 100% the trek for you (we did 4D3N) but there is not much animal wildlife in the park to see - many insects though! Thankyou again Xai & Mun, we are so grateful to have met you both 🙏

We did a two day trek with jungle-camping. The staff was very friendly and explained everything about the trip in detail. The trail was amazing and we almost didn’t meet other travelers. Our guides Ae and Wong were knowledgeable, caring (we were the only 2 vegans in the group and the food was great!) and very pleasant. The only downside on our part was that the cabin we slept in was very uncomfortable and the mattresses and sleeping bags provided were not in good shape.

I’m just back from the 3 day 2 nights forest tribe trek through the jungle. Xai and Puan were our guides and were absolutely exceptional!! Xai is the kindest, most generous person. He was always checking in with us and worked so hard providing amazing food for us every single meal! This trip exceeded all my expectations, it was a super authentic experience getting to explore the jungle and the ethnic minority villages. (And heads up the hiking can be challenging in parts and accommodation is quite basic but it’s all part of the journey!) Thank you Xai and Puan 💜

I did 3 days Wild Thrill Trek and I can only recommend for an authentic jungle and ethnic village experience, I was alone with the guide but I felt safe and comfortable. I enjoyed the food and the way it was prepared, I wasn't hungry at all. From my experience the company is reliable and trying to provide good service for the customers.

I went on a two day trek with the Hiker into the dense jungle in Nam Ha National Protected area. It was a fantastic experience. We trekked for 5 hours a day, ate our food off huge banana leaves and came across countless types of plants and insects. Our guides were great and knew so much about the jungle, having practically grew up there. We slept outside in a shelter, under a mosquito net in the middle of the forest. Awesome experience, even in the lashing rain. The agency provided all equipment and hire local people as guides and helpers. It's nice to know your money is going back to the people you have met along the way. If you are visiting Luang Namtha, this is a must do!

We did a 2 days trek and camping in the jungle with the Hiker. I really recommand it ! We had an amazing experience sleeping in the jungle. The Trek was fun. A bit more challenging than expected but the Guide waited for us and made sure that everyone was following and safe. 5 stars for our guides and especially Peng who cooked some delicious jungle meals. He showed us which plants we could eat and actually puted some in our plates. We felt safe and well guided and we had a great view of the jungle life.

Best adventure tour I've done in Southeast Asia! I did a 2 day 1 night trek, The jungle trek was challenging but rewarding - 6 hours through bamboo forests and mountain streams with excellent wildlife spotting. The guides were extremely knowledgeable, spoke excellent English, and shared lots of insights about local flora and fauna. They went out of their way to ensure we had a wonderful time! The village homestay was the highlight. Authentic Laos hospitality from our host family. What impressed me most was how genuine and sustainable this felt. Real cultural exchange, not performative tourism. Kayaking was pure adrenaline - navigating the winding river and enjoying the rapids! Perfect balance of adventure and cultural immersion. Book immediately!

Highly recommend. We took 2 day 1 night walking, jungle camp trip (including a quick visit at a village). It was AMAZING. I won't spoil it for you but the views are great, the guides very nice, good english speakers and great cooks! (really the meals were better than in restaurants in town). Because of the wetether the trekk isn't the easiest but it's not hardcore either. Take swimsuits and bio shampoo to bath in a river ;) You may consider leech socks but it's not a must have. Organisation is very good including transfer through river with kayaak. Enjoy your jungle experience!

Amazing 2-day jungle/kayack/homestay adventure! The trekking through the jungle was incredible - spotted cicadas, mongoose and loads of butterflies. Our guide also stopped to forage mushrooms for our dinner. The village homestay was pure magic. Our host family welcomed us warmly despite the language barrier. We learnt how to shoot a bamboo crossbow and even rice pounding. Kayaking down the muddy river surrounded by dense jungle was spectacular. It was the perfect mix of peaceful with some rapids for a bit of an adrenaline rush. Such a cool experience!

We went for the 3 days trek and kayaking and just had the best time. We were lucky to meet Thong and the whole guides crew who made this experience unforgettable. We were a groupe of six people, we trekked the first day, kayaked the second one and had a third day of walking in the jungle. The guides were very easy going and kind, they taught us a lot about the jungle and the people living in the area, they cooked three times a day delicious meals for us; we had a very good time. We paid 99 USD for the whole thing which was very reasonable and not that expensive if we look at the prices of other agencies in the city. Glad we made the choice to trust Discovering Laos !

We did the one-day jungle trek with our guide, Thong. It was an amazing jungle experience! The guide spoke English at a good enough level so we could understand everything. He let us try many different jungle foods, which was really special. The trek included a visit to a local tribal village, then around a 6 km walk through jungle, and afterwards another stop at another small village. The whole experience took about 8–9 hours. It’s a perfect option for those who don’t have the time for a two-day trek, like in our case. The lunch provided was something truly special – a real local experience. The food was prepared by our guide’s wife, and he carried it in his backpack the whole way. It was more than enough to fill us up, but it’s definitely for those who are open to trying local food the way the locals eat it. For us, it was absolutely perfect.

We had an amazing 2D1N trek and kayak with this company. Our guides Tong and Seong were the best. They cooked amazing fresh food with supplies from the market and jungle, they work wonders with bamboo building us cups, pots, spoons, chopsticks and shot glasses, as well as our shelter. Their English was amazing also. The gentleman in the shop was very helpful with information, not too pushy and very accommodating with requests and dietary requirements. I’d definitely recommend the jungle camp option as we had great fun building the shelter and cooking in the evening. Overall amazing experience and would highly recommend to anyone in the area.

We had a very good experience with discovering Laos. Since they don't have a physical office yet, the manager came to our hotel to discuss all the options. We immediately felt very comfortable and had a lot of options to arrange a trip to our wishes. We chose a two day trekking followed by one day of kayak. The first night we slept in a homestay and the second night in a campsite where we slept under banana leafs. Our guide, Toua, was very fluent in English and had a lot of knowledge about the local villages and life in the jungle in general. We had a great experience and would DEFINITELY recommend this company to anyone who wants a similar experience in the jungle.

It was so amazing. We did a 2day trek +1 day kajak. What an experience. Don't think about fancy stuff, but raw and real 👍🏼. Lot is just Wow-what a guide always happy and just so amazing. Also Pon super good guide. I would recommend bring some fruits or snacks with you. It's not too easy but it's totally worth it. Amazing experience and super company. We had a group of 7 people from different nationalities-brilliant.

Incredible experience with Forest Retreat Laos. We went on the 3 days (2 day hike and 1 day kayak) and we had a blast, mostly thanks to our great guide Lot. He was patient, funny and explained to us tons of things about the jungle in good english. Where he shone most was the food. He and his assistant cooked incredible dishes for all meals in the middle of the jungle. Some of the best food we had in Laos. It was also great to eat food directly foraged during our walk. Anyways, if going for a jungle hike, I wholeheartedly recommend this company - ask for Lot as your guide.

Had a great experience with Forest Retreat Laos. We had a lot of special requests and the tour was customized perfectly to our wishes, even though we were quite late to ask. The trip was organized great, beautiful views, delicious food, exciting adventures - we had so much fun and enjoyed our time a lot. Thank you very much!

Great experience with Khong, met some awesome people and had a great time. Point of improvement would be maybe slightly more food per person but it was enough. Getting more in touch with the local village we visited would have been nice, we had what felt like a very “western” experience there.

We really enjoyed our stay in Luang Namtha because of Thong‘s agency! We did 1 day of trekking and 1 day of cycling. Thong did adapt the tours very well to our wishes and we learnt a lot about the nature and Luang Namtha itself!

We did a 4 day trek and it was great! Before booking we’ve checked out few other companies next door but they charged much more than Forest Retreat and offered similar treks. Very good value (we paid under 300 USD for 2 people, the whole group was 4, other companies charged this and more per person!). Guides were also great - we had Kong (really funny guy, very knowledgeable, friendly) and Jai (he is amazing! Really good English, caring, helpful and a great chef - best tomato soup we’ve ever had!!! If you do the trek ask for Jai, he the best guide we’ve had when travelling in Laos, you won’t regret it!). We had a homestay and then 2 other camp stays, everything was comfortable, we had good vegetarian food cooked for us, camp was built too, water provided, enjoyed cosy evenings by the fire and night jungle noises. Treks were beautiful, quite tough to be honest (carrying your bag up the steep hill for many hours) but we enjoyed this challenge. Walked 5-6 hours a day, mostly up the steep hills. I’m sure they can tailor the trek for you but we wanted a good challenge and we got it :) Last day we joined a local Lao village for a ‘new built house’ ceremony - that was a super fun party, experience we could never replicate again. We highly recommend the company and guides.

I did the 3 day trekking (2 days walking, 1 kayaking) in the dry season (February) and I couldn't be happier. This trek will take you through different sceneries like tree forests, riverbanks, jungle, bamboo forests... You'll visit several villages and stay overnight in one of them getting to know their lives and sharing some lao lao. At some points the hike can be pretty hard, but it's all worth it when you get to the cabin next to the river, where the sky opens, there is nobody around and you finally feel in the middle of the jungle. The last day of kayaking it was easy and fun. Special mentions to our guide, which was very helpful explaining all kind of curiosities about the surrounding nature. To Lod, our official cook who prepared delicious meals every single time and even went fishing at night to let us taste some fresh fish, and to the villagers that accompanied us on every stage doing the heavy lifting. These guys really know how to survive in the jungle with little more than a knife and a bottle of lao lao!

Very cosy treehouse! Built around a single tree on 25m height. Three stories high, and there's a (cold) shower and toilet!

Great experience! Careful with leeches and other insects!

(Translated by Google) Magisterial stay in the Jungle. The drive and trek there are tough, but the view is more than worth it. Best bathroom ever at 40 m high and overlooking the jungle when you shower in your bare ass. Good beds, duvets and mosquito net available and the food is more than excellent. (Original) Magistraal verblijf in de Jungle. De rit en trekking erheen zijn zwaar maar dat is het uitzicht meer dan waard. Beste badkamer ooit op 40 m hoog en uitkijkend over de jungle als je in je blote kont staat te douchen. Goede bedden en dekbedden en klamboe aanwezig en het eten is meer dan prima verzorgd.

(Translated by Google) Certainly a little expensive, but so unique, especially if you have the chance to see the gibbons. (Original) Certes un peu chère, mais tellement unique, surtout si vous la chance de voir les gibbons.

Enjoyed a leisurely cruise along the Luang Prabang portion of the Mekong River in conjunction with the visit to the Pak Ouv Caves. The view of the mountains and riverside was scenic and beautiful. The Mekong River was brown during the cruise, likely due to the frequent rain during the time of the cruise. Not sure if the colour of the river would be different during the non-rainy season

Before I made my visit to Vietnam, I had a wish list of things that I should see and enjoy. One in the top of the list was Mekong River & Basa Fish. Traveling through 6 countries and providing everything to the people Mekong has influenced the life of the people. Though it’s considered as one of the most polluted rivers in the world, it’s worth seeing the river. I was in Vietnam and I could see the last part of the Mekong River. The delta is fertile and rich in crops. The floating houses of Mekong are very famous. The delta is rich in fruits and the restaurants in the delta provide excellent food.

Sunsets are a good time to take photos of Mekong River. There is sometimes plenty of varied and many kinds of vegetation and swamps in front of the river itself.

Great experience. Must visit place in Lao. Going on the boat was a thrilling experience

I've never been to this place, but the food was delicious. 🧟‍♂️🤡

(Translated by Google) Amazing.... Exciting experience, cycling from Vientiane, Laos - Luang Prabang - Muang Xay - Pak BEng - Chiang Kong - Chiang Mai - Bangkok (Original) Amazing.... Pengalaman seru, bersepeda dari Vientiane, Laos - Luang Prabang - Muang Xay - Pak BEng - Chiang Kong - Chiang Mai - Bangkok

(Translated by Google) So beautiful. (Original) สวยหนา้ชม

We tried New challenge discovery because of the recommendation of the Stephan Lose guide on Laos. We visited the the office and in an easy going and talkative atmosphere discussed the options we had for a one day activity. We we're provided with a good insight into each option (kayaking or trekking with varying amounts of intensity) and finally decided to do a long trek which requires a good level of fitness. The following day we started the trek with two guides. From the office we went to a village and started our trek from there into the dschungle and hiked up a hill with a spectacular view. The guides have a profound knowledge of the area and gave us intriguing information about the plants and wildlife we were able to see. Later we had an authentic lunch all together which was delicious and also communicative due to the fact that we shared the food (as opposed to the practice of other tour providers). Generally the guides are respectful, attentive and keen to get to know their clients as well as always happy to provide and share insights into their culture. In contrast to other treks we did in Laos this experience was the most authentic one.

The nicest people we've met in Asia. They were super helpful and thoughtful, even came with us to an internet company for our phones. Sat down and talked to us for a long time. Amazing people!

I give the Challenge Discovery 5* for a few reasons... One: they're offering an experience no one else is offering - aside from the Gibbon Experience there aren't many cool active things to do in Houay Xie and there could be; Two: MJ was there always with a ready smile, trying to make the experience more, and Three: the day long kayak journey down the Mekong was really quite cool. The Mekong is interesting, alive in some places and so very quiet in others. Floating along the border between Thailand and Laos is just neat. Anyway, awesome experience, i'd tour with them again. Note this is not a budget tour. But like I said they offer service no one else in Houay Xie has. And there's always the charity angle with them if that helps you justify the spend. Cheers and good touring!

Good: MJ and SiPoon was our private tour guide. Had there were other guests, then we would have to share them. The whole experience was great. Nice cold water on a hot sunny day, full filling local Laos lunch packed with flavors, calm, quiet, a few areas with whirlpool (but manageable for us kayak newbies), swimming, lodging, drinking half a can of beerlao with my hubbie, while floating on the Mekong River. It was full day of discovery about Lao and other Southeast Asia countries from MJ. SiPoon speaks enough English to have a pleasant conversation. MJ, on the other hand, he pack filled with history, current events, and culture. He is passionate about his community coming together to help his city, Huoey Xai, to flourish. For that alone, is my reason to go back to him and his place of work when I come back. Not good: Napkins during lunch would have been nice. If we had to share our tour guide.

Great people and a great cause. I did a one day kayaking trip on the mekong river. Trip was great, the view is very nice and we got to swim in the river. The guide is awesome and is really involved with the Lao community and children. With the raised money they help educate poor children in the community.

They are very nice , and kind people, perfect trekking. We Will come back to them again for sure ! If you are in hauy xai don't need to rush, do some tours with them, they do good things for their country, and their villages. ( supports those young people by get some tour with them)

Views are very nice. Chairs are soft. They are from cars. Not boring.

People were quite unfriendly. Locals near the pier were more helpful and friendly then the staff. Mekong Smile Cruise raised the price from 700 to 1000 baht the past year without adding any additional value (or 210000 Kip to Luang Prabang if you pay in local currency). Due to low season the boat is quite uncomfortable (not with tables like shown on the pictures) and only one boat a day is driving. The prices for food or drinks are overpriced, hence buy your snacks before your trip. Don't have too high expectations after you see the pictures.

The Mekong Smile 2 days cruise down the Mekong was absolutely worth the extra money. Seeing the public slow boats crammed full of people rushing straight past all the exceptional sights, sounds and smells made us know that we made the right decision. The booking teams was very flexible and helped us organise exactly what we wanted and the onboard team and service was nothing but smiles (and tasty food). I think a lot of the reviews here are for the public slow boat not offered by Mekong Smiles.

Very pleasant journey with Smile Mekong Cruise! Good service at their Huay Xai office to reserve with Mr. Ken. The trip was lovely! Our Lao guide named Touy was happy to share his knowledge and culture while being helpful, dedicated and friendly. The captain did a great job making the trip smooth. His wife, the cook made nice dishes with great care. Very positive experience! So grateful for the stops in the villages and cave, which felt authentic. Very special experience. Gorgeous landscape! I feel it was really worth taking this cruise package. Korp Jai! (Thank you in Lao) Note: Having read other comments, it seems like some writers might be confusing with the public slow boat...

The company was 30 minutes late to pick us up and we eventually had our hotel call them, upon which we discovered they had completely forgotten us. We boarded the tuk tuk and then he waited around for another 10 minutes before actually bringing us. When we arrived and got our tickets, to our dismay we were placed in the worst seats on the boat, in the back next to the bar and toilets. This is precisely the reason we bought the tickets the day before, so we could have a better seat near the front. When we asked the ticket office, we couldn't change our seats and they told us the company hadn't called in our reservation so effectively it was as if we had showed up at 10am to buy our ticket, meaning we got the worst seats on the boat. If I were you I wouldn't go with this irresponsible company and just arrive early to buy your ticket directly from the pier. Complete waste of money.

I travelled on the overnight sleeper bus from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, it was one of the worst travel experiences I've had. The service is billed as 'VIP' with drinks and snacks. We received the world's smallest bottle of water upon boarding and a bag to place our shoes. Nothing else. The beds were very small, anyone that would be considered above average height in Asia will struggle. Those travelling on their own be warned that you will be sharing a very narrow bed, with nothing to separate you, with possibly anyone. I'd say this is a bigger issue for women, but if you're lucky to be beside anyone broad you're going to be getting to know each other very well. The journey is very windy so while lying on the bed expect to toss and turn, with no barrier to keep you from falling out if you're on the top. All of the above would have been enough to make this a fairly miserable journey. Now we add in the driver. I don't even know where to begin with this. The driver decided to put on his music after the only rest room/food stop. This was at about 8-8.30pm. I thought maybe he just likes a bit of music for a half hour and we're only back on the bus so everyone's awake anyway. 'It'll probably stop soon'. It didn't stop. The entire bus was fortunate enough to be audience to a 7-8 hour non-stop Laotian musical performance. Not one single person asked for this. Actually, a number of people after a couple of hours of this went up and asked the driver to lower the music/turn it off given we all purchased the same SLEEPER bus. The reply from him? "No. I like the music." He even obnoxiously turned it up. At one point it seemed to me the music was only coming from the back of the bus, I. E. Where those who had asked for it to be lowered/turned off were sitting. Why did he turn it off at the front? Well to watch Lao/Muay Thai on his phone of course! How do I know this? I was in the first sleeper bed on the right so I could see and hear it all. It's rough to give the company such a poor rating due to one individual but it was without a doubt the most horrendous bus experience I've ever had. If I could go back and do it over again, I would 100% not be doing the overnight bus. Instead of meaning I got to my destination somewhat rested, I spent the next day or so recovering, effectively wasted a day catching up on sleep.

If you are willing to take the slow boat to Luang Prabang, don't buy the ticket here. They will charge you 240000 kips. Try to buy it at the Pier, which is about 1 km away from town and it costs 210000.

Stunning view! But would 100% recommend going there quite early for sunrise! I left my accommodation at 5.20 had a 15 minute drive and I was a bit tight to catch the sunrise. From the parking lot it’s still a good 20-30 minutes hike up in a steep road so plan accordingly. It’s worth waking up (coming from someone who normally can’t wake up before 11)

Drove from Mae Sai early in the morning to catch the sun rise. Clocked 2 hours of sleep but witnessed one of the most beautiful views, making it totally worth it! Weather up there in December was super cold for a tropical place like Thailand, maybe about 3 degrees (wind chill)? Short hike up to the peak from the carpark. You can take a pickup up the steeper parts but ultimately still have to climb a bit. In the end, it’s all worth it — just stand there and take in god’s creation!

Surreal and majestic. I would recommend staying for a night close to the park and doing the hike the next morning to see the sunrise. Amazing views of Laos from the cliff.

Took 2 hours to get to from Chiang Rai. Car park was a little lower down than where it’s shown on the maps so you’d have to walk 30 mins up to get to the view point. Even in the dark, the path was fairly straightforward—you do need a flashlight. Went around the end of March and it was foggy and overcast and cold, still a lovely experience and view. If you’re here for the pictures, you can’t see much on camera this time of year.

Great view for sunrise here. It’s a short steep drive up to the carpark and from there, it’s a 760m walk to the viewpoint. The walk up is no too difficult, but the road could be slippery on a wet day. I took about 12 mins to reach the viewpoint. It was a bit hazy on the morning we were there, but the view is still beautiful as the sun appear on the horizon. Worth the trip here

We arrived about 6am. It was still dark. The sunrise was about 6.50am. It was an amazing experience to watch the sun rise above the clouds. Well worth doing once. It was really cold. Wear many layers of warm clothes.

Such a nice place! Very peaceful, we were alone when we visited! So nice to escape the crowd for a little while. We came here as a day trip from Chiang Rai, the ride is pretty smooth, just be careful during the slopes. There is public toilet before you reach the parking lot. From the parking it’s 750m to the top, but it’s kinda steep. The view is very nice, and it’s funny to know that the highest point is actually in Laos!

Beautiful teak temple with many strange collections of old objects, fossils, and currency. Unclear what exactly it is, but definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.

A very nice local Thai temple with the extra bonus of a section of it being a museum. Well worth a visit to reflect and explore.

the most beauty temple in Chiang Kham. Really impressive and with amazing architecture. Inside you can walk and adnire many statues of Buddas.

Visit 30/3/2019 - Without question one of the best examples of historic Temples and how they should be preserved.

This is the best one for the visitors from other regions or other countries to visit the old Thai-Yai style with friendly people.

Very beautiful temple direct in the city but very quiet and peaceful !

A beautiful wood temple with historic museum inside.

Looks like a nice spot but we couldn't make it there in a car we really tried but the last couple km of dirt road was way too bumpy we would bottom out and risk not getting our deposit back haha so I'm not sure how people make it there, I suppose a rough but doable moto ride or a pickup truck.

Nice water fall. The road for the last couple of ks is still a challenge. Recommend you visit at the end of the raining season. The water is clear and take some mosquito repellant.

My home town. It's good place to relax and walk. Exploring nature

I took the long and hardest way there

Nice walk to a beautiful waterfall. Good nature.

(Translated by Google) Tad Khwan Waterfall, good atmosphere, very natural. Cars should be a little careful of oncoming traffic on the mountainous road. Motorcycles are more suitable. (Original) น้ำตกตาดควัน บรรยากาศดี ธรรมชาติสุดๆ รถยนต์ระวังรถสวนเส้นทางขุขะนิดนึง มอเตอร์ไซค์ เหมาะกว่า

(Translated by Google) Tak Kwon Forest Park is a tourist attraction in the Tat Kwon community. There is an area to set up a tent and there are bathrooms as well. There are officials who take care of tourists and recommend tourist attractions. I used to go camping with friends and school to do school activities. It was a lot of fun. Anyone who likes nature will definitely like it. Recommend coming during the winter. The weather is very cool. You can come to travel. (Original) วนอุทยานน้ำตาควันเป็นแหล่งท่องเที่ยวในชุมชนตาดควันมีพื้นที่ให้กางเต้นต์และมีห้องน้ำด้วยครับ มีเจ้าหน้าที่ค่อยดูแลนักท่องและแนะนำสถานที่ท่องเที่ยวนะครับ ผมเคยไปตั้งแคมป์กับเพื่อนๆและโรงเรียนทำกิจกรรมของโรงเรียนครับ สนุกมาก ใครที่ชอบธรรใชาติถูกใจแน่นอนครับ แนะนำมาช่วงหน้าหนาวนะครับ อากาศเย็นสบายมากครับ สามารถมาท่องเที่ยวได้นะครับ

We came here as wanted to see the 3 rivers meet. To be honest it wasn't really worth the visit. Not much to do here at all . They had several stalls with the locals crocheting bags and hats which I do wish I did buy from here as they were lovely and cheaper than any where else even though they are cheap enough in general but you would pay double in the south. Lovely hand made candles aswell.

We drove up here from Chiang Rai which took just over an hour on the scooter. We knew it wasn’t going to be breathtaking so the expectations were not high, we did however thoroughly enjoy our trip here (including the journey!) Nice long highways to get there, very easy to follow on the map. Cool to see the three different countries all in one place. There are many stalls to buy souvenirs and snacks. There are also a few different spots to take photos from. It’s not an incredible view as you can see from the photos but it’s definitely cool to see and say you’ve been there! A nice road trip too :)

I was underwhelmed. Signs all need redoing and are hard to read. Vendors in stalls mostly rude or disinterested in our custom. Place is pretty run down. Roadworks on the journey add extra travel time and result in many places to stop along the way being closed. Check it out if you’re close to tick off the list but o wouldn’t bother making the trip from Chiang Mai especially for it.

Visiting the Golden Triangle was like stepping into a living history book layered with beauty, mystery, and a hint of danger. The Museum of Opium offers a deep and sobering look into how this region once fueled a global trade — both devastating and defining for generations. Just across the river lies a stark contrast: a modern island glittering with a large casino and luxury facades, reportedly tied to Chinese criminal networks and dark operations like human trafficking and online “romance” schemes. It’s surreal to stand at the crossroads of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar — where ancient traditions, political tensions, and modern vice all collide. The views are stunning, the history is heavy, and the atmosphere carries an undeniable energy that feels both beautiful and unsettling. A must-see for those curious about the realities beneath Southeast Asia’s serene surface. Would you like me to make a shorter version optimized for Google Maps (around 3 sentences, more traveler-focused but still intriguing)?

28/October/2025 Visited this place on a midday. View of the 3 countries was insightful. It's amazing & I'm so glad to make it here. Beautiful & serence.

This is the most touristic place along the Mekong River. Hundreds of buses and visitors from all over the world. Probably historically interesting, but I wouldn't go there for another time. A lot of other places with a great view at the river. If you are there and like tea, prices for local products are good. The following questions do not make sense. There is no fee or tickets for this place. Perhaps they mean the opium museum. But I was not there.

It was interesting to see where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos come together, but beyond the geographical interest it wasn’t spectacular. The detail and history about “No man’s land” in the middle of the 3 countries was very interesting, though. Well explained by a tour guide.

Awesome place Tourist

(Translated by Google) It's a very good place. (Original) とても良い場所です。

(Translated by Google) There is an immigration bureau here, mainly the Golden Triangle Customs Entry and Exit Management, Thailand Department (´･ω･`) (Original) 这里有一个移民局，主要是金三角海关出入境管理,泰国处 (´･ω･`)

(Translated by Google) It's next to the border of 3 countries: Thailand, Laos, and Burma. Coming to one place is worth it. (Original) ติดชายแดน3ประเทศเลย ไทย ลาว พม่า มาที่เดียวคุ้ม

(Translated by Google) Very beautiful view, high tide, low tide, Lao side, Thai side. (Original) วิว​สุดสวย​ น้ำขึ้น​ น้ำลง​ ฝั่งลาว​ ฝั่งไทย

(Translated by Google) Golden Triangle border crossing point (Original) จุดผ่านแดนสามเหลี่ยมทองคำ

It is a private and small museum. Very interesting place, one of proper choice when you visit golden triangle. Ticket is only 50B, it is shaped as a related picture of golden triangle area. Good place to know about opium also.

The House of Opium Museum in Chiang Rai is a fascinating and eye-opening stop for anyone interested in the history of the Golden Triangle. The museum traces the region’s opium trade from its historical roots to modern-day efforts to curb cultivation, using photographs, artifacts, and informative displays. The exhibits are thoughtfully arranged, giving context without being overwhelming. It’s a compact but highly educational visit, best taken with some time to read the displays and reflect on the complex history of the area.

Edit: I used the word didn’t instead of did and that made it seem like I didn’t enjoy the experience. When in fact it was the complete opposite. I enjoyed how simple and to the point it was. There are two museums that are all about opium, but this one is the one that’s closest to the Golden triangle, however, it is a bit smaller. I did enjoy this one because it was more childlike, it was direct into the point versus the other museum that’s much bigger and dives deep. Things in this museum feel more hands-on and interactive and in your face that’s why I say it seems more childlike. Also, cool, fun fact the ticket they give you is actually a postcard and you get to choose which one you like and at the end you get to stamp it with a bunch of different things, including the date. When I went entrance was ฿50

I didn’t expect to be so fascinated, but this museum completely blew me away! It’s easily one of my favorite places I’ve visited in Thailand. Unlike many other sites that don’t offer much background information, the Hall of Opium is filled with rich details about the entire history of opium — from its origins and trade routes to how different tribes used it for income or personal use. They even included different legends on opium. There are even unexpected and interesting sections, like information about the giant catfish in the nearby river! The exhibits are beautifully presented, and the craftsmanship of the opium pipes is stunning — they’re like pieces of art. I was on a tour but ended up staying much longer because there was just so much to take in. If you’re anywhere near the Golden Triangle, make this a top priority — it’s absolutely one of the top three things to do in the area.

Very detailed exhibits and immersive without technology! The description are in English and narratives well depicted in photos and artifacts. A good 30 mins to 1 hour experience, depends when you have to leave the area on the journey back.

This region used to be the land of opiums grown by hill-tribe communites before diverted to other agricultural activities. This museum tells the story of opiums in the northern part of Thailand with a massive influence from Myanmar and China linking to conflicts with neighboring countries including the Opium War.

Stepping into the House of Opium Museum in Chiang Saen was like uncovering a forgotten chapter of Southeast Asia’s past. It’s a small museum, but packed with a fascinating collection of artifacts that trace the opium trade’s deep-rooted history in the Golden Triangle region. The visit begins through a dim tunnel leading into a poppy field replica, setting a surprisingly immersive tone. Inside, you’ll find an eclectic range of historical items—opium pipes, weights, tribal tools, photographs, and more—each telling a piece of the complex story of cultivation, trade, addiction, and colonial entanglement. I was particularly struck by how personal and intimate the experience felt. The English signage made it accessible, and the exhibits—though compact—were thoughtfully curated. Despite its small size, we easily spent nearly an hour there. The museum staff were friendly and helpful, and we even received a complimentary postcard with our entry ticket, which was a sweet gesture. It’s not flashy, but it’s sincere—and a real eye-opener into a part of the region’s past that’s often overlooked. If you’re in the Golden Triangle or Chiang Saen, don’t miss this gem. It’s well worth the stop.

The Doi Tung Botanical Garden, located in The Doi Tung area of Chiangrai province. North Thailand 🇹🇭 Variety of decorative flowers, especially temperate climate flowers like the Lady,s slipper orchid. The garden is part of Doi Tung development project which aims to the improve the lives of local communities through sustainable development, including horticulture, reforestforestation, and agriculture

Exploring Doi Tung feels like discovering a hidden gem in northern Thailand. Once troubled by drug issues, it's now a beacon of sustainability and natural beauty. The verdant hillsides, adorned with terraces, offer a serene escape. Mae Fah Luang Garden is a vibrant tapestry of native flora, while the Doi Tung Royal Villa provides insight into its royal history. Beyond its picturesque allure, Doi Tung is a testament to resilience and transformation, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in its tranquil ambiance and rich cultural heritage.

Free shuttles to get to the gardens. Nicely maintained and very peaceful. The skywalk isn't functioning nor is the ziplines. Lucky we only came for the gardens and they were very pretty.

Very peaceful place to visit. A unique gem of design and wooden art. Very easy to visit and multilingual audio player is provided at the entrance. Impressive view over 3 country and a huge garden with a large variety of flowers and plants from all over the world. Clean air and magic atmosphere in the middle of mountains. Definitely a place to visit in Thailand,

Nice place to go, December would be best to see colorful flowers and the weather is very pleasant. There are flower festivals in front of the Mae Fah Luong Garden. Love it.

The Royal Villa was amazing. You can see Chiang Rai scenery from above the hills. Just once in a while you should visit.

It’s a nice place but it’s not something that is a must since it’s quite far from the nearest city. If you’re a Doi Tung coffee fan then I guess you’d like to be here. There’s a flower garden, some rock trail and the former kings mothers resort (?), which you can pay for 90baht each for entrance. I really liked the views and the resort that has limited but access to public.

It was ok, pretty gardens, but to be honest definitely not one of our favourite gardens and it’s a really long way to get here. I wouldn’t go again or recommend unless you happen to be passing by.

We've been there many times but never miss the chance when in Chiangrai. There is a bit of walking up and down. Free wheelchairs are available. This time, you could also rent a golf cart for 500 baht for 30 minutes or 1,000 for an hour.

Very beautiful gardens, give yourself about 45 minutes to an hours to enjoy.

We came to the park in the low season and were practically alone there. The pond and a number of flower beds were under reconstruction. The park was open until 5pm, but you could walk there later. There are discounts on tickets for residents and seniors.

Beautiful gardens and very popular place to take photos with the flowers. It seems the gardeners are constantly on the move replacing flower beds past their best with new flowers to keep the gardens looking colourful. There are several viewing platforms and places to sit within the grounds as well as several small greenhouses. I highly recommend the coffee shop for an espresso before you enter the gardens, totally delicious and made from coffee beans grown and roasted in the Thai mountains.

Mae Fah Luang Garden is located in Doi Tung area (also including nearby Doi Tung Royal Villa, Hall of Inspiration). It has fountain, beautiful flowers decorated with different concept for your visit, looking or posing pictures. And the key highlight here is The sculpture "Continuity", ends of the Garden to exit gate. Must visit when you arrive Chiang Rai. 2/2019

This garden is well worth the drive up from Chiang Rai. Such a beautiful and well maintained garden. Entry is 90b for adults and 45b for seniors. Wander along the many pathways, check out the flowers and view of surrounding mountains, or just relax on one of the many shady benches. And don't forget to check out the orchid exhibit, for sure the largest assortment of lady slippers I've ever seen in one place. The garden is huge, so even if there's a crowd you can still find a little spot of your own. When I was there, the treetop section was closed, so keep that in mind before making the drive, if your heart was set on that. Clean toilets at the entry and inside, and a small coffee stand and ice cream stand inside. Just down the road (short walk) are some food sellers and a handicraft section.

Doi Tung Palace is a summer residence of King Mother, located in northern Thailand's highlands, near the border with Myanmar. King built this residence for his mother as she lived a portion of her life in Switzerland, delighted with mountain houses there. Northern Thailand, with its highlands and mild temperatures seemed the most suitable place for it. Upon King's orders it was built in a fusion of a Swiss chalet and Lanna style houses. For anyone who's visited any European chateau (palace) it's nothing to write home about, but considering it's in Far East it's worth visiting if on the way. Audio guide is included in the ticket and gives some interesting insights. Best part are the gardens beneath, nicely manicured and cared for

If you want to visit a royal garden, better in Chiang Mai. But in a good weather day after non stop raining, it was great to visit this little cosy garden. Enjoy

The garden was beautiful, full of many different varieties of flowers! Th entrance costed us 90THB/person to visit only the garden. You can also rent golf cart if you prefer that. The best time to visit is during winter season Dec-Jan. When I visited this place on Jan 11th, the weather was perfect! There are some coffee stalls inside the garden. You can enjoy your coffee while admiring the scenery. I will go back next winter!

Stunning, highly recommend if you visit Chiang Rai. A photographers dream👌 It shows open till 6pm, however we arrived 5:15pm only to find it closes at 5pm 😅

The house was the best spot of my Chiang Rai trip. The audio guide given was clear and the house was very well-maintained. You can learn about the life of the mother of King rama 9. The way she improve that area to what is called Doi Tung nowadays. However, you don't have to buy the whole package ticket that cost 220 THB for 3 places tickets coz 1 place, the garden - i don't remembered the name but it's a long one, is very old and there's nothing in there.

It's a very nice place to visit it self, a little uncomfortable, need to plan accordingly, the shops around have unrealistic prices and there is only one toilet at the main entrance

This royal "palace", home of the late Princess Mother and one of her daughters, is one of the most amazing buildings in the country. Since Her Royal Highness spent most of her life in Switzerland, this royal villa has been built for her in the mountains of Northern Thailand in a style of a Swiss log chalet, though with traditional Thai Lanna (Northern style) decoration. So spectacular! And it's also so amazing, how industrious and moderate at the same time was the life of that wonderful lady.