Nestled in rolling green hills of Mae Rim District, an easy drive from Chiang Mai City, there are actually two Hmong villages here. Mae Sa Noi is the first village one arrives at from highway 1096 and is the location of the “Community Product[s] Center” a fantastic workshop where the locals produce clothing and accessories using traditional materials and techniques. The Hmong of Chiang Mai Province still grow hemp and painstakingly produce woven cloth from the plant's fibrous stalks. The hemp cloth is then colored using natural dyes produced from the indigo plant and other native species. The cloth is then decorated using a batik technique that uses natural bee’s wax. I was fortunate to arrive in the village as the Sunday service at Mae Sa Noi church was ending. Many of Thailand’s “Hill-People” are Christian having been converted by missionaries. Sundays are a good day to visit villages as many of the locals put on their best traditional costumes to attend the services. I was invited to eat with the congregation and gladly accepted as I never turn down a free meal and I do enjoy Hmong food; it is quite different from Thai cuisine. In return for the hospitality, I purchased a lovely wallet sort-of-thing from the community products center. After lunch and shopping, I took a stroll through Mae Sa Mai a fairly typical rural village where visitors will see some examples of traditional Hmong architecture. Hmong homes are easy to recognize; they are simple single-story dwellings built of wood (or clay) with rammed earth (dirt) floors. Completing my exploration of the villages, I drove up in the mountains above both villages, where the homestays are located, and had another wander. The people here are actually quite friendly as Hmong folks tend to be. As previously mentioned, these villages are fairly authentic, not particularly touristy and I highly recommend a visit as part of a Mae Rim District outing. Did I mention that these are Hmong villages? There are no Kayan (long-neck Karen) people or elephants living here. The reviews that suggest otherwise are simply incorrect.

A great experience to understand & experience the simple livelihood of the Hmong people. Displaced from modern society, many of these people have to resort to sale of handicraft items to earn a living. Indeed a nice place to travel. Has a restaurant within the hill tribe village. Need to walk distances if want to view all the surroundings. Not suitable for people on wheelchair or crutches to visit.