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Explore the enchanting tale of Chiang Mai through Lưu Phương Nhung's entry in the travel writing competition, 'Freedom to Explore - Your Way.' Her 6-day adventure, from 21 – 26/11/2018, unfolded in the magical land of Chiang Mai.
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My journey spanned only 6 days, from 21 – 26/11/2018, coinciding with the nearing conclusion of this competition. Despite knowing the slim chances of venturing further, I'd still undertake it. Perhaps, if you read this and feel inspired, you'll embark on your own journey and share the wonders you've witnessed. That alone would bring me immense joy.
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In my childhood fantasies, I often imagined myself as a princess. Wrapped in blankets fashioned by my mother, donning a hat fashioned from a kitchen pot, and adorned with colored paper like a tribal leader (I loved the wild style from an early age, hehe). Then came the movie Tangled, and I envisioned being somewhere distant, where on my birthday, lanterns would be released, with the hope that one day the princess would find her way back. Hence, after searching for ideal destinations for this trip, Chiang Mai was chosen as the place for me to return to that kingdom during the Loy Krathong and Yee Peng Festivals.
Regrettably, my birthday falls in February, and a princess heading to Chiang Mai in November seems a bit off. So, this time, I'm reserving this special treat for the birthday of my bosom friend. Ironically, its purpose in Chiang Mai is quite simple—EAT to its heart's content. Nevertheless, I'll still release lanterns and light sky lanterns to celebrate its birthday, hoping that any sorrows will drift away, wishing it good health, and that all its wishes come true in the new year. This also captures the essence of Loy Krathong and Yee Peng Festivals. I wonder if it will comprehend my idea when it reads these lines, haha.
Chiang Mai
Day 1
Chiang Mai welcomes me with an incredibly lively atmosphere, vibrant music resonating everywhere, and colorful lanterns sparkling all around. Tourists from all corners gather, filling the air with laughter. Well, a princess's arrival should be nothing less, right? Haha. Reading the festival schedule provided by the hotel, I discovered they were organizing dance performances in the old town to kick off this year's festivities. Later, everyone would head to the banks of the Ping River to release sky lanterns for the Loy Krathong Festival. However, due to exhaustion after two flights, each of us collapses and falls into a deep sleep.
Day 2
The next morning, we rented a motorbike about 7 minutes' walk from the hotel. The bike owner warned my friend, 'Hey, do you have an international license? If not, the police will catch you, and it's a 500-baht fine. Good luck not getting caught, hehe.' Despite knowing that, my friend was still very confident, proudly zooming down the street on the rented Click as if the road belonged to it. In less than 10 minutes, the police nabbed the two of us along with many other bikes for a license check. Each of us looked clueless, but my friend seemed the most clueless of all. Naturally, it ended up having to pay the fine, but because the police here are polite and adorable, it appeared quite pleased to be fined. With this fine slip (see below), you can freely ride for the next 3 days without worrying about further penalties.
Tourists in Chiang Mai mostly gather in the old town area. This petite region is enclosed within a square on the map, surrounded by enclosed water channels. Around this square are remnants of the ancient country. Just about 3 hours of walking are sufficient to explore all the alleys here. Lanterns adorn the streets, gleaming with various colors. In the evening, lanterns illuminate the streets, and temples seem to guide the travelers back to the origins of sanctity.
My next destination in Chiang Mai is the village Baan Kang Wat, approximately 10 km from the center. It's a complex of small shops selling handmade items, cafes, or exhibitions displaying traditional Thai handicrafts and unique handmade products. Those who are passionate about vintage and zakka styles, like me, cannot miss a visit to capture some fantastic Instagram moments.
At 7 PM, tourists start gathering at Nawarat Bridge to release sky lanterns. Seeing the first lanterns float into the sky, my heart starts beating wildly, and I pull my friend to run quickly towards the bridge. Walking and looking up at the sky, I accidentally step on the lantern of a foreigner. The person grumbles and looks sad at the torn lantern but refuses politely when I suggest buying a replacement. However, my concern fades as I look around, people are laughing, greeting each other, and no one cares about the torn lantern anymore; it seems all sorrows have disappeared.
The traditional Thai music begins, drums resound loudly, intensifying, making the atmosphere even more suspenseful. And when you see hundreds, thousands of lanterns rising together, a feeling of excitement overwhelms you to the point of almost crying. It's like stepping into a fairy tale world, as if hundreds, thousands of stars are racing to shine, making the night sky enchanting and magical. I have never seen such a marvelous and beautiful night sky. I hastily take out my phone to capture the moment, but it seems impossible to fully describe the beauty; I just gaze for a long time to remember each moment.
Day 3
Due to the hilly terrain of Chiang Mai, there's no shortage of thrilling activities for those who want to test their endurance and courage. My friend loves zip-lining, so it booked the Jungle Flight Zipline tour on Klook for half a day the next day to swing into the jungle like Tarzan.
Ziplining is an incredibly exciting activity. We swung across various terrains with the longest zipline being 1000m and a super-speed zipline of 1,100m. Booking this tour, the organizers provide hotel pick-up, ensuring convenient transportation. Soaring over the trees, extending the vision to the vast mountainous landscapes, it was a thrilling experience. My friend and some fellow travelers cheered loudly, creating a lively atmosphere that echoed through the skies. Tarzan-style adventure made it thoroughly enjoyable.
Explore more thrilling Zipline experiences in Chiang Mai
After concluding the exciting excursion, we thought the time afterward would be peaceful. Unexpectedly, an incident occurred, causing a hiccup in our plans.
It turns out, until 4 PM that day, we just casually went to 7Eleven to buy Green Bus tickets to Chiang Rai for the next day, only to be shocked that they were sold out. During festivals, securing tickets without prior booking can be quite challenging. Suddenly, a variety of plan Bs, Cs, Ds, Es... were considered, including taxis, Grab, Songthaews, but the prices were exorbitant.
Intending to visit the One Nimman area for Instagram-worthy photos, but due to those plan Bs, Cs, Ds, Es... turning our minds upside down, nobody was in the mood for snapshots. While driving back, in the chaos, we somehow ended up on the highway with a dead phone battery and no way to find our way back. Escaping that highway, almost reaching home, the police blocked all roads for a parade. Oh, the next two hours were a crazy ride as the driver sped like a maniac across Chiang Mai's streets to catch a glimpse of the parade, salvaging what was left of this incomplete evening. Finally, after many challenges, we made it back just in time to enjoy the spectacular and vibrant parades.
As for Chiang Rai, we'll plan that for tomorrow...
Exploring Chiang Rai
Day 4
At 7 AM, we confidently stood at the Chiang Mai bus station, awaiting a glimmer of hope. As one hour passed, then two, when we were about to give up, my friend spotted a group of young Vietnamese travelers also seeking tickets to Chiang Rai. After inquiring, we suggested pooling money to hire a taxi. After lengthy discussions, the group decided to share a taxi to inquire about the price. With one member fluent in Thai, they negotiated a deal with the driver. Agreeing on 3000 baht, including visits to Wat Rong Khun and Wat Rong Sear Tean, we happily hopped on the cab, heading straight to Chiang Rai. No time to waste; without this ride, we'd be stuck with a hotel and no reasonable options during this festival season.
Comfortably move with Klook's Private Car between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai
Klook now for the journey to explore the White Temple
Sitting in the car, hearing the stories of these young travelers made me realize how independent, dynamic, and determined the youth are nowadays. They willingly put themselves in life's pressures, solve them, and turn them into valuable experiences. Traveling and experiencing with them is a beautiful memory. Meeting is fate, traveling together is another blessing. If you're reading this, I wish you embark on many more journeys in life, achieve great success, and keep the flame of youth burning brightly.
Visiting Wat Rong Khun and Wat Rong Sear Tean made me appreciate how Thais can construct such magnificent and timeless temples. Every detail seems meticulously crafted by an artist, not just an ordinary builder. Even the restroom at Wat Rong Khun was intricately built, fooling me into thinking it was another golden temple.
Don't miss the White Temple, Blue Temple, Black House, and Singha Park!
That evening, my friend and I rented a cute red Scoopy scooter, exploring every corner. Passing an old mall, we noticed a crowd gathering. It turned out they were hosting a bodybuilding competition. Seeing the muscular participants covered in golden oil, flexing their muscles, showcasing their strength, was surprisingly amusing.
Next was a stroll through the night market, where I immersed myself in the street dance atmosphere for the first time. People of all ages danced traditional moves around a large courtyard. Encouraged, my friend and I joined in for a few rounds. Strangers became acquaintances, acquaintances felt like family, everyone smiled and danced closely. Geographic, linguistic, and skin color differences vanished, making way for the unity of street dance beats.
Enjoy a Klook food street adventure in Chiang Mai
Day 5
On the second morning in Chiang Rai, the weather was splendid—dry and refreshingly cool. Riding the scooter on the highway early in the morning was simply delightful. The chilly wind briskly greeted us, the first rays of sun emerging and tagging along. We decided to revisit Wat Rong Sear Tean for a final gaze. Truly, looking at any temple in the early morning, when the serenity and solemnity are untouched by the hustle of hundreds of tourists, is extraordinary. The sunlight slowly infiltrated every nook of the temple, illuminating the shimmering details of the gold-plated statues. The blue paint suddenly gleamed, seemingly infused with a layer of radiant golden paint. The bell started ringing, resonating all around. I wish we had more time; I would have revisited Wat Rong Khun to appreciate its mystical beauty.
Don't miss Chang Rai and the Golden Triangle on a day trip!
Baan Museum was the last place I visited in Chiang Rai. Somehow, it felt like touring the Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi, haha. The Black Temple in Baan Museum was stunning. However, my enthusiasm diminished significantly when I saw numerous crocodile leather sets, grand displays of fur, and bags made from crocodile leather throughout the museum. I hope those crocodiles died of natural causes and weren't killed for their hides.
In the evening, I returned to Chiang Mai to fly back to Saigon the next day, concluding a journey filled with new experiences and excitement. On the flight back to Saigon, gazing at the sea of floating clouds outside, I wondered, at this time next year, where would the princess continue her journey, hehe.
Though I know this article may forever remain known only to myself and neatly tucked away in the notes on my Facebook, which few people visit anyway. Nevertheless, I'm happy I wrote it; I fulfilled a small part of the question I posed to my friend: 'Should I write a book about my life?' I wandered, struggled to find true desires to answer the question, 'What is the purpose of coming to this Earth?'. But I realized that ideas won't appear until I start executing and completing them with all my effort, dedication, and responsibility. Then, one day, I will find my own path. Similar to this competition, even though I didn't travel as far as I expected, it's still a beginning for the remaining pages I will write in the future.
Phuong Nhung
Ho Chi Minh City, 11/29/2018
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Sharing a few small travel tips from my journey:
Information:
My go-to website in Vietnam is the phuotvn page, and I often check blogs from travel enthusiasts. Now, I'll also explore Klook.
Flight tickets: I frequently use skyscanner to find tickets.
Accommodation: Websites I often refer to:
- booking.com: I use this site for its user-friendly interface
- airbnb.com: A quite good platform to find accommodations cheaper than booking.com and sometimes the chance to stay with locals.
Hotel in Chiang Mai: Trace Hotelistro. This hotel is located about 300m from Nawarat Bridge (one of the locations for releasing sky lanterns and floating lanterns) and right on the main route where the festival parade passes by, making it very convenient to watch the parade from the hotel balcony. Moreover, the hotel is right next to the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar and some small night markets around, so it's very convenient for transportation.
Hotel in Chiang Rai: Sleepy House. This is a B&B type guesthouse, very lovely and centrally located.
Places to visit and eat:
I usually search on Google in both English and Vietnamese. Then, check across YouTube, Instagram, and blogs of frequent travelers to see reviews about that place. Next is to bookmark on Google Maps for convenient itinerary planning.
Transportation:
- My must-have travel apps are Google Map and Rome2rio, very convenient for checking routes and suitable transportation.
- Getting around Chiang Mai Old City: I rented a scooter from a shop about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Besides, you can move around with Mobike bicycles (download the Mobike app, prepay 50 THB, and unlock any cute red Mobike you see on the street). Besides Grab, there are Song Thaew and taxis, but negotiate the price a bit.
- In Chiang Rai, I rented a scooter at the guesthouse, a cute red Scoopy.
- Moving between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai: Green Bus, Route 166, runs from 6:45 AM to 6:00 PM, so buy tickets online on the Green Bus website in advance.
Traveling in a group? Renting a private car on Klook is both convenient and cost-effective!
Cost: Regarding this, I didn't calculate much. Actually, living expenses and accommodation here are not expensive, so you can rest assured. For hotel expenses, it's best to book at least 6 months in advance; during the festival season, finding a hotel you like may not always be easy.
Wishing you all wonderful journeys!
