L ET’S GO
Nan Province
There are so many reasons why I love
living in Hua Hin. As a foreigner it has
all the conveniences I am used to and
desire as well as a laid back, resort beach
lifestyle.
Occasionally though I long for the more
rustic and traditional side of Thailand,
the side of Thailand that isn’t dominated
by tourism and amenities. If you feel the
same then take a trip to Thailand’s Nan
Province. Nan is both a quiet town and a
tranquil province in Northern Thailand,
approximately 670 kilometers from
Bangkok and covers an area of 11,474
square kilometers.
Nan features six national parks,
including the stunning Doi Phukha
National Park, which contains mountains
nearly 2,000 m high. The rich natural
beauty of Nan makes it an ideal
destination for trekking as the remote
province sees far fewer visitors than
neighboring Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai.
The provincial capital of Nan, seldom
visited by Westerners, has a relaxed
charm, an interesting history, some
impressive temples, and a good museum.
There are also a number of quality
restaurants and bars along the town’s
riverfront to plan your adventures into
the countryside or relax after a day of
sightseeing.
The largest city in Nan Province is Nan
City which is located in Nan’s biggest
river valley. Nan City is still quite small
and can be driven across in about twenty
minutes. About 100 kilometres to the
north is Pua, Nan’s second largest city.
Pua is really just a small town but is a
good spot to base yourself when checking
out the nearby Doi Phuka National
Park or Silaphet Waterfall. Other towns
in Nan Province are Wiang Sa, about
50 kilometres south of Nan City, Mae
Charim, 100 kilometres east of Nan
City, and Ban Luang, which is about 100
kilometres west.
The Nan National Museum is housed in
the 1903 vintage palace of Nan’s last two
feudal lords, this museum first opened its
doors in 1973. In terms of collection and
content, it’s one of the country’s better
provincial museums, and has English
labels for most items.
The ground floor has ethnological
exhibits covering the various ethnic
groups found in the province. Among the
items on display are silverwork, textiles,
folk utensils and tribal costumes.
On the 2nd floor are exhibits on Nan
history, archaeology, local architecture,
royal regalia, weapons, ceramics and
religious art. Of the latter, the museum’s
collection of Buddha images includes
some rare Lanna styles as well as the
floppy-eared local styles. Also on display
on the 2nd floor is a rare ‘black’ elephant
tusk said to have been presented to a Nan
lord over 300 years ago by the Khün ruler
of Chiang Tung (Kyaingtong).