Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PHAYAO PROVINCE
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Phayao
POP 20,000
Few people, including many Thais, are aware of this quiet but attractive northern city. Per-
haps in an overzealous effort to remedy this, a tourist brochure we came across described
Phayao as 'the Vienna of South East Asia'. Although this is just
slightly
stretching the
truth, Phayao is certainly one of the pleasanter towns in northern Thailand. Its setting on
Kwan Phayao, a vast wetland, gives the town a back-to-nature feel that's utterly lacking in
most Thai cities, and the tree-lined streets, temples and old wooden houses of 'downtown'
Phayao provide a pleasing old-school Thai touch.
The little-visited town is the perfect place to break up your journey to/from Chiang Rai,
and can also serve as a bookend to our suggested driving trip (see the boxed text) from Chi-
ang Khong.
