Nan

น่าน
Northern Thailand
668 km from Bangkok
Province of Nan
Population : 62.000
Thai prononciation : Naane

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General Information about Nan

Nan is a city that we hear little talk yet its history goes back centuries and is fascinating even if it would be a bit long to explain here. Nan has very recently joined Siam (1931) and has long been an independent kingdom. This story is partly evident in the murals of temples, the most famous and complete being at Wat Phumin.

The temples are also cultural and tourist richness of Nan with Lanna and Thai Lue influences. Legend has it that the inhabitants of Nan born naga egg, so we found a lot. Nan is also famous for its boat races, a tradition that dates back more than six centuries. They are held in the summer at the Buddhist retreat (dates vary according to the lunar calendar). If the local tourism is growing increasingly in Nan, few foreigners still come here. Yet culturally and historically, this is an interesting step. Not necessarily for a first trip to Thailand but for who already knows the attractions of Thailand and who loves the history of the area, Nan is an interesting destination.

Hotel in Nan

Guesthouse in Nan

Practical information about Nan

There is a tourist information center in Nan. It is located on the sidewalk opposite to Wat Phumin. They don't see many foreign tourists and seem to only have one person who speaks English well enough to inquire in detail but you still can get a map of the city.

Nan is very easy to visit by bike. There are bike lanes. Most guesthouses in Nan rent bicycles (50-80 baht per day). Otherwise, the café between the gas station and Wat Hua Kuang also rent bicycles. If Nan can easily be visited by walking, to see the two outer temples including Nan standing Buddha at Prathat Khao Noi, bike or car is mandatory because taxis or tuk-tuk are quite rare in the city.
If you can, try to come to Nan a for the week end. Every Saturday and Sunday evening a small very friendly night market is held in the street along Wat Phumin. Otherwise, every night, street stalls are installed near Sukkasem Hotel on Phakong Road between Wat Suan Tan and the traffic light.

Please note that if you plan to go to Nan for New Year's Eve, book your accommadation weeks in advance because it is a popular destination for Thais on this occasion. Room prices are also significantly rising at this time.

Other places to see in Nan