The village of Ban Rak Thai lies on a small lake and is primarily known for its U Long tea plantations. Here you can enjoy a pleasant stay in the mountains and sample tea and Chinese cuisine. However, don't expect a vibrant nightlife. The most frequently seen photo (including mine) of the Chinese houses nestled among the tea plants is of the Lee Wine Ruk Thai Resort in Ban Rak Thai. Unfortunately, I didn't take many photos, as we only had one hour without rain during our stay. If there is a local bus to Ban Rak Thai (see below) – which is how I got there – I recommend renting your own vehicle to visit Pha Suea Waterfall or Pang Ung.

About fifty kilometers from the city of Mae Hong Son lies the small mountain village of Mae Aw. There are several places in Thailand called Ban Rak Thai, which means something like "Village of those who love Thailand." Mae Aw is the old name of this Chinese village, founded by former nationalist fighters from the Chinese province of Yunnan. They had fled to Myanmar and from there had to escape to Thailand. The Thai government allowed them to stay in order to protect the border from the spread of communism.

To get to Baan Rak Thai, if you don't have your own vehicle, take a yellow songthaew (shared taxi with benches in the back) from behind the Mae Hong Son Food Market, on the road alongside the airport runway. There are two departures daily in the morning, but it's best to check the schedule the day before. The fare is 130 baht per person. Be careful and ask before boarding, as there are several yellow songthaews and not all of them go to Baan Rak Thai.

How to get there

How do I get to Baan Rak Thai? If you don't have your own vehicle, take a yellow songthaew (shared taxi with benches in the back) from behind the Mae Hong Son Food Market, on the road alongside the airport runway. There are two departures daily in the morning, but it's best to check the schedule the day before. The fare is 130 baht per person. Note: Before boarding, ask if all songthaews go to Baan Rak Thai.