Northern Thailand - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 943

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Nan

054 / POP 20,000
Due to its remote location, Nan is not the kind of destination most travellers are going to
stumble upon. And its largely featureless downtown isn't going to inspire many postcards
home. But if you've taken the time to get here, you'll be rewarded by a city rich in both
culture and history. Nan Province also has a low-key outdoor adventure scene, and the
border at Ban Huay Kon makes the province a possible gateway to Laos.

Sights

Wat Phumin

BUDDHIST TEMPLE

(cnr Th Suriyaphong & Th Pha Kong; daylight hours) Nan's most famous Buddhist
temple is celebrated for its exquisite murals that were executed during the late 19th cen-
tury by a Thai Lü artist named Thit Buaphan.

Nan National Museum
(Th Pha Kong; admission 100B; 9am-4pm Wed-Sun) Housed in the 1903 vintage palace of
Nan's last two feudal lords, this museum first opened its doors in 1973. In terms of collec-
tion and content, it's one of the country's better provincial museums, and has English la-
bels for most items.

MUSEUM

Activities
White-water rafting along Mae Nam Wa, in northern Nan, is popular, but only possible
when the water level is high (September to December), and is said to be best during the
early part of the wet season.

Nan Touring

RAFTING