Phrae: Northern Teak Wood Central with a Relaxed Vibe
Phrae, Thailand: The Hidden Gem That’s Basically Like Time Travel (But With Better Food)
So, you’ve done Bangkok’s chaos, Chiang Mai’s temples, and Phuket’s questionable beach bars. Now you’re craving something different, somewhere that hasn’t yet been Instagrammed to death. Enter Phrae, a sleepy, charming town in northern Thailand where the pace is slow, the teak houses are older than your grandpa’s grudges, and the most exciting traffic jam involves a wandering chicken.
Why Phrae? Because You’re Fancy (But Also Cheap)
Phrae is like Thailand’s best-kept secret, if by "secret" you mean "a place most tourists accidentally drive past on their way to somewhere louder." This is where you go to:
- Pretend you’re an old-timey explorer (but with Wi-Fi).
- Eat like a king on a peasant’s budget.
- Ride a bicycle without fearing for your life (mostly).
What to See & Do (Besides Planning to Move to Thailand)
1. Get Cultured (Or Just Pretend)
- Vongburi House – A stunning teak mansion that screams, "I was rich in 1897." Great for pretending you’re in a period drama (bonus points if you dramatically sigh while gazing at the carvings).
- Wat Phra That Cho Hae – A golden temple on a hill, because no Thai town is complete without at least one place where you must take off your shoes and regret your sock choices. As you might have guessed, this temple is just one of many to be explored.
- Phrae’s Old Town – Wander streets lined with century-old teak houses and try not to get jealous of people who lived in actual vintage homes before it was a hipster trend.
2. Eat Like You’re in a Competitive Sport
Northern Thai food is the unsung hero of the culinary world, and Phrae does it right. Must-tries:
- Khao Soi – The curry-noodle dish that will ruin all other noodles for you.
- Sai Oua – Spicy northern sausage. Warning: May cause addiction and/or mild regret.
- Local Markets – Hit the Talaat Sod (morning market) for street food so cheap you’ll wonder if inflation forgot about Phrae.
3. Do Something Active (Or Just Watch Others Do It)
- Bike Around – Rent a bicycle (50-100 THB/day) and pedal like it’s 1920.
- Visit Long Village – A nearby ethnic village where you can buy handmade fabrics and feel guilty for not having any useful skills.
- Trekking – If you’re into sweating in the jungle, local guides can arrange hikes to waterfalls and hill tribe villages. Can also be done in Chiang Mai of course should there not be enough participants.
How to Get There (Without Summoning a Wizard)
- From Chiang Mai: Buses (3-4 hours, ~150 THB) or drive yourself if you enjoy narrow mountain roads and existential thoughts.
- From Bangkok: Overnight train to nearby Den Chai (10+ hours, ~600-1,200 THB), then a bus transfer, or a flight to Phrae’s tiny airport (yes, it exists but flights are scarce and dear).
Where to Stay (Because Sleeping on a Bench is Frowned Upon)
- Budget (300-500 THB): Basic guesthouses and hostels. Think: fan, cold shower, and the thrill of saving money.
- Mid-Range (600-1,500 THB): Cute boutique lodges or restored teak houses where you can pretend you’re a 19th-century merchant (but with aircon).
- Splurge (2,000+ THB): A fancy resort outside town for when you need a pool to recover from all that relaxing.
Getting Around (Like a Local, or a Very Lost Tourist)
- Walk – The town is tiny. Your feet will thank you.
- Bicycle – The best way to explore, assuming you remember how to ride one.
- Songthaew – Shared pickup trucks that function as taxis (20-50 THB per ride). Pro tip: Wave like you mean it.
Final Thoughts: Go Before Everyone Else Does
Phrae is the kind of place where you’ll accidentally relax, eat too much, and take photos of old houses like some kind of architecture nerd. It’s quiet, cheap, and packed with charm, so visit now before the secret gets out and it becomes "the next Chiang Mai" (ugh).
Now go forth, traveler. And maybe send a postcard (do people still do that?).
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