Come to Chiang Mai, discover the peaceful things

Chiangmai Plateau will satisfy the souls who love gentle nature. Photo: THANH TU

Living with heaven and earth

When it comes to Thailand, there is more than just the colorful atmosphere in Bangkok or the curiosity in Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi. Did you know that most of the festivals in Thailand originated from the ancient Lanna kingdom such as: Loy Krathong, Yi Peng, Songkran. Therefore, if you want to learn about Thai culture, do not miss Chiang Mai.

In Thai, “Chiang” means city, “Mai” means new. It turns out that Chiang Mai is a new city, even though it was founded 700 years ago by the Lanna people in the North. Also in Thai: “Lan” means million, “na” means rice field.

Nature embraces the Lanna people, and hundreds of years later, they maintain their mission of living peacefully with the earth. This has created a gentle and affectionate personality like the climate of the highest plateau, colloquially known as the roof of Thailand.

Chiang Mai tourism is different because of its rustic experiences, typically with ecological activities. Like the story of elephant care. Here, elephants are raised and protected, with a retirement age (61 years old) and then released into the wild. Thai people believe that elephants are sacred animals, worthy of respect.

Immersing yourself in the night of Loy Krathong will be an unforgettable experience. Photo: THANH TU

Try a 45-minute raft ride, following the stream from upstream to downstream. The raft takes you through the dense forest, gliding on the clear, cool stream, listening to the sounds of nature.

Those are the moments of enjoying the life in the mountainous countryside. Or find another interesting place - the elephant dung farm, try your hand at making handicrafts from elephant dung to make paper, cards, souvenirs. Or sit on an ox cart, entering the famous long-necked ethnic village.

Experience the festival and cuisine

During the day, go to the forest, cross streams, visit villages... then in the evening, return to the city, enjoy the space at the night market along the poetic Ping River - where the upstream river flows into the capital Bangkok. Along the riverbank, under the moonlight, melodious music makes the mind soar and wander.

You can’t miss Northern Thai cuisine like Khao soi or a traditional Khantoke meal, which is eaten the old-fashioned way – sitting on the floor, using your hands instead of chopsticks. The rich dishes are prepared in the local style, served on rustic wooden trays. The strange way of enjoying them adds to the uniqueness of the taste.

Immersing yourself in the night of Loy Krathong will be an unforgettable experience. Photo: THANH TU

Chiang Mai is also famous for the Loy Krathong festival. If you are lucky enough to be immersed in the Loy Krathong night, it will be marked as a strange night in your life.

In Thai, “Loy” means “to float”, “Krathong” means lantern. When coming to the festival, try following the Thai instructions to make your own traditional lantern made from natural materials such as banana stalks, banana leaves, purple orchids arranged, fixed with bamboo toothpicks, placed on a lit candle.

Be sincere in making the lantern beautiful and sturdy, so that it can float far. The bright candle light symbolizes the wishes we send. And Thai people always cherish that.

The Loy Krathong festival also includes the Yi Peng lantern releasing ceremony. Participants are given traditional costumes - as a recognition and welcome from the Thai people.

Along with that, visitors can take souvenir photos, print and frame fabric (although this is included in the ticket) and receive a white lantern. Everything will be released at exactly 9pm according to the ritual. Thousands of shimmering lanterns are released into the night sky like that.

Chiang Mai is also known as the “capital of the land of temples” because here, temples are located close to each other. Believers from all over the world find peace under the ancient temple roofs. There is a place here that many people wish to visit at least once: Plum Village.

It would be ideal to come here at the end of the year, in the chilly air mixed with the joy of the Loy Krathong festival season. I believe, you will have a strangely peaceful experience.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/den-chiang-mai-kham-pha-nhung-dieu-binh-yen-3142988.html