Fang & Tha Ton

Introducing Fang & Tha Ton

/

North from Chiang Mai along Rte 107, the city of Fang was originally founded by Phaya Mengrai in the 13th century, although as a human settlement and trading centre for jiin haw caravans, the locale dates back at least 1000 years. More recently the surrounding district has become a conduit for yaa bâa manufactured by the Wa in Myanmar.

Although Fang may not look particularly inviting at first pass, the town’s quiet backstreets are lined with some interesting little shops in wooden buildings. The Shan/Burmese-style Wat Jong Paen (near the New Wiang Kaew Hotel) has a very impressive stacked-roof wíhǎan.

There are Mien and Karen villages nearby that you can visit on your own, but for most people Fang is just a road marker on the way to Tha Ton. Most visitors also prefer Tha Ton’s more rural setting to stay overnight. It’s only half an hour or so by sǎwngthǎew to the river from Fang or vice versa.

Along the main street in Fang there are two banks offering currency exchange, and four ATMs.

About 10km west of Fang at Ban Meuang Chom, near the agricultural station, is a system of hot springs that are part of Doi Fang National Park. Just ask for the bàw náam ráwn (baw náam háwn in northern Thai). On weekends there are frequent sǎwngthǎew carrying Thai picnickers from Fang to the hot springs.

Tha Ton is little more than a sǎwngthǎew stand and a collection of river boats, restaurants and tourist accommodation along a pretty bend in Mae Nam Kok. As a tourist destination, the main focus is the river dock, launching point for Mae Nam Kok trips to Chiang Rai, with treks to the many hill-tribe settlements in the region a distant second place.

There is a tourist police office (1155; www.tourist.police.go.th;8.30am-4.30pm) near the bridge on the river-boat dock side. Opposite the tourist police is an internet shop and there is also a computer next door in Coffee Cup. Both charge 30B an hour.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009