Mae Hong Son City

Mae Hong Son City is the administrative capital of Mae Hong Son Province. The ‘city’ moniker comes from the standardized translation of the Mueang district name – commonly used to identify provincial capitals in Thailand.

Mae Hong Son city does have a significant population but is spread out with plenty of greenery. The best place to get a view of the city and surroundings is from Wat Doi Kong Mu which is perched on a central hill in the valley.

Chong Kham Lake

There are quite a few guest houses and small hotels clustered around Chong Kham Lake, and this is the main area of activity in the evenings.

A walking street / night market extends much of the way around the lake and in addition to the street food, the main restaurants are within walking distance.

On the southern side of the lake, there are two temples under lights at night: Wat Chong Klang, and Wat Chong Kham. At these temples you can see examples of local/regional temple architecture, as well as impressive temple art including frescos and carved figurines.

Sai Yud Market

Sai Yud is the name of the main fresh market in Mae Hong Son City. It is most active in the morning and is a great way to see the variety of fruit, vegetables, beans and herbs grown locally.

Since many of the guest houses and small hotels in town do not provide breakfast, this is also a good place to eat in the morning. At the main entrance (facing the airport), there is a very popular noodle stand that sells a unique shan dish – noodles in mung bean porridge, served with deep-fried mung bean (and regular soy bean) tofu.

At the back of the main market hall is a coffee stall that serves surprisingly good coffee, brewed from a blend of local coffee beans.

Nearby Attractions

Huay Pu Keng

Doi Kong Mu Temple

Su Tong Pae Bamboo Bridge

Pa Ying’s Peanut Factory

Phu Klon Mud Spa

Tham Pla Fish Cave

Mae Hong Son City – Multi-Day Itineraries

Mae Hong Son Loop [5D4N]

Mae Hong Son Explorer [4D3N]

Places to Stay in Mae Hong Son City

Clean budget accommodation is available in the center of town, a short walk from the lake and walking street / night markets. If you want a more standard hotel experience, the Imperial Mae Hong Son is a few minutes south of the city. Fern Resort is the most comfortable option and is great value, but some distance from the city center.

Where to Eat in Mae Hong Son City

At night, there are various street food and pub food options at the lake / walking street. Baan Song Thai Restaurant is a good option for lunch south of the city. In the evenings, Kai Mook Restaurant is a good option near the town center.

Transport to Other Provinces

If you plan to travel independently to Mae Hong Son, there is a bus service available. See the timetable below for information regarding the bus service from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son, and return journeys.

Check route schedules and ticket prices using the search form above, or click through to airport information below.