Tourist attraction in Thailand: Pang Ung

Pang Ung or ‘Pang Tong Royal Development Project’ was originally established by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Her Royal Highness Queen Sirikit in order to transform an illegal opium planting area for hill tribes, tree felling zone and trespassed area of smugglers into agricultural area by forming a group of villagers, supporting their agricultural economics, conserving natural resources, and building a reservoir in Pang Ung. has a green pine forest surrounding a large irrigation reservoir. Regarding the meaning of its name, in the northern Thai dialect, the word ‘Pang’ means a shelter for forest craftsperson, and the word ‘Ung’ means wetland which may refer to the reservoir. Pang Ung which has been described as the most romantic destination in Thailand, is an area of untouched beauty hidden away in the mountains of Mae Hon Son province. Pang Ung sometimes is called “Switzerland in Thailand”. In the winter, sometimes the temperature drops to zero and create a thin film of ice-covered flowers and plants giving the gift of endless memory.  Besides witnessing the early morning spectacular sunrises, you will also see thick solemn mist covering the lake like a woolen blanket, slowly wafted upwards curling gently into the morning air. To immerse yourself in the stunning atmosphere, you should also definitely take a ride with the bamboo raft floating through the mist and row around the lake watching two white swans and two black swans given by Her Majesty the Queen Sirikit.

Don’t miss to visit Pang Ung Garden near the Royal Project Office where you can find a variety of flowers and plants and other agricultural products. Back in the past, the area was under the opium poppy cultivation but later was abandoned and now with aim of establishing vegetation area to blend with the terrain at high altitudes, fruits such as avocado, plum, pear and persimmon, winter flowers such as roses, Hydrangea Pyrostegia, and Venusta and  local flora and animals such as a variety of orchid and tree frogs are protected and conserved.