Mae Aw - Thailand's 'love village' among the most beautiful in the world

Mae Aw Village, one of the most beautiful villages in the world, has Chinese architecture and culture and is known as the "Thai village of love".

Mae Aw, also known by its popular nickname Ban Rak Thai (Thai village of love), is located in a valley in Mae Hong Son province, 1 km from the Myanmar border. The village is surrounded by hills, tea plantations and reservoirs. In early May, the US travel magazine CnTraveller voted it one of the 50 most beautiful towns in the world in 2023.

Ban Rak Thai village is nestled among tea plantations with houses built in Chinese architectural style. Photo: Instagram/Banksjourney — Ban Rak Thai village is nestled among tea plantations with houses built in Chinese architectural style. Photo: *Instagram/Banksjourney*

Ban Rak is a Thai-Chinese village, founded by immigrants from Yunnan province. Today, the village is still heavily influenced by Chinese architecture and culture. Most of the people speak Mandarin, and many signs are in Chinese.

Located in the far west of the country, before the pandemic, few people visited. In recent years, the village has been mentioned by more people but is still an ideal destination for those who want to get away from the crowds of Bangkok or the excitement of Pattaya.

Most visitors only visit the village for a day trip, or consider it one of the must-see destinations when visiting Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. If you just want to relax and do nothing, this quiet village is the place for you.

Along the lake are cafes and restaurants. As Ban Rak Thai is famous for its tea products, enjoying a cup in one of the teahouses here is an experience recommended by local tour companies. Restaurants also serve Chinese, Yunnan-style dishes and homemade fruit wine. Every February, the village holds a tea festival.

The best time to visit is November to February. Visitors should bring sweaters and jackets as it is cold at night and warm during the day.

The easiest way to get to Ban Rak Thai is to book a tour through a tour operator from Mae Hong Son or Chiang Mai, which are more than 250 kilometers away. Otherwise, you can rent a car or motorbike to get there yourself. But the steep, windy mountain roads can be difficult for new and inexperienced drivers, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) suggests.

The food in the village is in the culinary style of Yunnan, China. Photo:

A cheaper alternative is to catch a yellow shuttle van from Mae Hong Son town, about 40km away, for around 130 baht. There are two trips daily, at 8am and around 12pm. The nearest airport is Mae Hong Son, with daily flights from Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Visitors from Vietnam can fly directly to Chiang Mai, then to Ban Rak Thai.

The village is small so there are not many options for accommodation. The most famous hotel here is Lee Win Ruk Thai, located in the middle of the tea hills, with room rates starting at over 800,000 VND (reference prices on booking applications such as Agoda, Booking).

Anh Minh (According to TAT, Chiang Mai traveler )

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