The province of Phrae is famous throughout Thailand for its indigo-colored Mo Hom fabrics. The village of Ban Thung Hong, four kilometers from the town of Phrae, is the most renowned center for this craft. There you'll find shops selling beautiful textiles, as well as dye works like Ban Pa Ngiam (see GPS coordinates and contact details below), which warmly welcome visitors who want to dye their own handkerchiefs, scarves, or shirts. It's truly enjoyable! "Mo" means "pot," and "Hom" is the name of the plant whose leaves form the basis of the 100% natural dye mixture used here. As far as I understand, lemon and tamarind are also added. The mixture is more green than blue, and your dyed fabric will initially be greenish, but as it comes out of the dye pot and is exposed to oxygen, it will become increasingly blue. At the workshops, you'll receive white garments to dye and a book with dozens of designs from which to choose your favorite motif. They will explain the process to you. From the initial idea to the moment you can take your finished, ironed, and dry piece home, please allow approximately two hours. Registration is only required for groups. While the staff may not speak English, they will assist you with gestures. You are welcome to bring your own white clothing to dye. However, it must be 100% cotton and new, as the dye does not penetrate previously washed garments as well.

There are several shops with workshops where visitors can create their own dyed garments. They usually open at 10 a.m., some even as early as 9 a.m. I went to Ban Pa Ngiam (mobile phone: 089-851-3048), where hobby dyers are welcome from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost ranges from 50 to 250 THB, depending on the type of garment being dyed.

A ride in a private songthaew or tuk-tuk costs around 100 baht. If you want the driver to wait for you, it will be more expensive. In that case, write down his phone number and call him when you're ready to pick you up. Getting around by bicycle is also very easy, as Phrae is only 4 kilometers from the city center, and most hotels and guesthouses provide bicycles for their guests or rent them out for around 50 baht per day.

How to get there

How do you get to Indigo Dye village? Taking a private songthaew or tuk-tuk will cost around 100 baht. If you'd like the driver to wait for you, it will cost a bit more. It's best to write down their phone number and call them when you're ready to arrange for them to pick you up. Getting there by bicycle is also very easy, as the village is only 4 kilometers from Phrae town center. Most hotels and guesthouses provide bicycles for their guests or rent them out for around 50 baht per day.