Day Trip to Mae Salong (ดอยแม่สลอง), a Beautiful Yunnanese Village in Chiang Rai, Thailand

Mae Salong (แม่สลอง) is a beautiful Yunnanese village in Chiang Rai, Thailand, and I was thrilled to take a day trip there. Be sure to check out my full blog post here: wp.me/psd9b-58o (all my tips about visiting)
Chiang Rai (เชียงราย) is one of my favorite regions of Thailand - it’s a beautiful area in northern Thailand - and I really love everything from the fresh air, to the lovely culture, to the delicious food. If you get a chance to visit Chiang Rai when you’re in Thailand, I would highly recommend it. Chiang Rai town itself is quite small, but there are many things to do and see on day trips, and one day Ying and I decided to rent a car and take a drive to a village known as Mae Salong (แม่สลอง). The name of Mae Salong (แม่สลอง) has actually officially been changed now to Santikhiri (สันติคีรี), however, everyone still refers to it by its former name, and all the signs are still written that way - so for this travel video and guide I’ll still call it Mae Salong.
After we rented a car, we then headed on the road, heading north from Chiang Rai town, until we saw the turn off onto a smaller road. On the route we passed by Choui Fong (ไร่ชาฉุยฟง), a tea plantation, and since we were in our own car, we decided to stop for a few moments to take a break, and to check out the tea plantation. It was a worthwhile stop, and no only did I get some delicious samples of tea, but I ended up buying so high quality tea to take home with me. After our tea stop, we continued driving for about another hour to Mae Salong (แม่สลอง). As we continued to drive and get higher in elevation, the view kept getting better and better, and the air became less humid and more crisp and mountain fresh - I loved it.
Mae Salong (แม่สลอง) is not an ordinary village in Thailand, it’s an ethnically Chinese Yunnanese village, and it honestly feels more like you’ve crossed the border into China. I really felt like I was not in Thailand anymore. You can read more about the history here wp.me/psd9b-58o, but the group migrated to Thailand at the end of the Chinese Civil War, and have been living in the Mae Salong and Chiang Rai region since.
When we arrived to Mae Salong (แม่สลอง), our first stop was to have lunch, as Ying and I were both extremely hungry. We chose a restaurant called Im Pochana (ร้านอิ่มโภชนา), serving Yunnanese food, which I was extremely thrilled about. The main dish of our meal was the braised pork leg, which was a huge plate of tender pork, that was extremely tasty and meaty. The other Yunnaese dish I really loved was just the simple plate of yellow Yunnanese noodles stir fried with egg and a few small vegetables. Though it was simple, it was fried to perfection, and I could taste smoke in the noodles - so good.
After a delicious lunch we then walked around the town for a bit. If you take a day trip to Mae Salong (แม่สลอง) you’ll find plenty of souvenir and tea shops along the main street of town. After walking around for a little while, we then headed back to our rental car and drove up the hill to a temple, where we had a nice view of the town / village, and a lovely cool breeze. On our way back to Chiang Rai, we ended up stopping at Doi Tung, a Royal park and palace, located not too far away in the Golden Triangle area of Thailand. It was a nice place to walk around and to learn about some of the history in the area.
Ying and I had an amazing day trip to Mae Salong (แม่สลอง), and the highlight for me, was of course, the delicious Yunnanese meal we ate for lunch. You can get to Mae Salong (แม่สลอง) by public transportation, but we rented a car, which made it much easier to get there and it was convenient to be able to stop where we liked. If you visit Chiang Rai, and want to take a lovely day trip, or even stay for a few days, Mae Salong (แม่สลอง) is a relaxing and beautiful place.
You can read my full article for details on how to get to Mae Salong and more photos: migrationology.com/2014/10/day...
Thank you for watching this videos. The music is courtesy of audionetwork.com
Mark is the eater at: migrationology.com/blog & www.eatingthaifood.com/blog/
If you enjoy Thai food, check out my “Eating Thai Food Guide”: www.eatingthaifood.com/eating-...
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[@TheSpritz0]

That cat looked cool!!! I'd have shared lunch with him, looks like a nice friend on a humid day!

[@MarkWiens]

TheSpritz0 We shared, the cat really loved that pork skin!

[@tia1999]

This kind of trip video are fantastic!! Great job!

[@Paul.in.Ireland]

This new format of including your travelling to different locations and the information on hire prices along with your food tasting and reviews is fantastic! Invaluable information to potential visitors to the land of smiles! Superb presentation as usual Mark, fantastic production and editing, loved the tradition chinese backing track that plays quietly in the background as you speak. Thank you and please keep up the good work.

[@pezao143]

Couldn't agree more!

[@MarkWiens]

Ryan Darcy Huge thank you Ryan, that is very encouraging to hear, and I appreciate the feedback.Thank you for your support.

[@MarkWiens]

pezao143 Thank you!

[@SuiGenerisAbbie]

Mark Wiens I felt sorry for that poor kitty cat, meowing for some food.

[@Sweetysalado]

The tea plantation was beautiful! It reminded me of the coffee plantations you get to see while traveling through Colombia.

[@TheFactsX]

Good to finally see Ying, Mark! She is beautiful. Best of luck and wishes to you on your adventures. Definitely do more videos like this!

[@MarkWiens]

TheFactsX Thank you very much, we appreciate it. More videos like this to come.

[@hunclemike]

I LOVE you videos and your absolute EXCITEMENT when the food is put down before you! Never lose that zest for life!!!!

[@kuken2000]

Thanks Mark, great video. Love the longer more personal format. Very nice of you to give of yourself in this kind of vlog.

[@MarkWiens]

kuken2000 Thank you for the kind feedback, I'll continue to make more videos like this.

[@mathamoredan2450]

Againt a beautiful place ...with a lot of light ....keep on the good work Mark .....

[@aongchannel]

โอ้ววว..ขาหมู..เห็นแล้วหิวเลยครับ

[@khoisae]

Love this place when I was in thailand.. 4 years ago.. will definitely go back again..

[@debraboyea7776]

What a beautiful area! Loved the scenery. The food looked so delicious. Loved the cat!

[@terry2855]

Great video Mark! I really liked the new format.

[@tomoconnell2858]

Another great video ! Thanks Mark.

[@JusticeForPinoys]

I happen to love mountains. Nice view!

[@CaliD0LL]

This is maybe the only video I’ve seen Ying eat on the camera. She’s beautiful! I’m glad she enjoyed the food along with Mark ❤️

[@misterrickster880]

WONDERFUL TO SEE HER ENJOYING!!

[@haroldklicker2527]

Great vid, hope to visit Chiang mai in the near future.

[@MrOldestPerson]

As usual, amazing video :) Stay save travelling!

[@Apok_Black]

Great video once again mark, thanks for sharing.

[@MarkWiens]

Myron Gainez Thank you for watching Myron

[@superslyfoxx1]

Truly enjoyed this video. Nice to get a chance to see these places through your eyes. I hope I get to travel someday.

[@myogdenrow]

Great day trip ... Fantastic scenery! Let us have more like this.

[@MarkWiens]

Milo Miller Thank you Milo. More vlogs coming up.

[@BrandonWongChunWee]

Nice intro to this place, I wanna go there already! Thanks again for great video and sharing, you are awesome!

[@limseebee]

Your videos are really getting better and better. Thoroughly enjoy the ones where you travel and wth Ying. And now, features wth cats! Nice work, and look forward to next one as usual.

[@ericchia3205]

great views and scenery. nice plce to visit.

[@effie-montreal]

Checking again your videos Mark to see where to go when in Chiang Rai

[@nijokongapally4791]

Mae Salong beautiful Place.👍💯 good street food👍😋 Amazing video👍💯😍💖

[@beagelnagel]

This is good trip. fantastic, enjoy every video loved it, the tradition of Thailand and the information you presentation that nice.

[@RhishavDas]

Loved your video Mark Wiens Keep eating and keep up the blogs and vlogs. Really loved it.

[@MarkWiens]

Rhishav Das Thank you very much Rhishav

[@BenjaminZeller]

I would love to see more vlog's, its great to see all the landscape!

[@MarkWiens]

Benjamin Zeller Thank you Benjamin, more vlogs coming soon.

[@VagabondRob555]

Thanks for another great video Mark and Ying. It was goog to see a bit of footage of Ying. You are a happy looking couple.

[@MarkWiens]

Robert Rosengreen Thank you Robert

[@jojielaredo2066]

Mark,thanks for sharing your video i love your smile! I went to thailand twice...

[@MarkWiens]

Jojie Laredo Thank you Jojie, glad that you've visited Thailand. What part did you visit?

[@german411]

Very nice video,lived in that area for 7 years and never went there,will do now after seeing your video.

[@Kuppz5]

Stunning locations Mark! i'd love to visit someday

[@MarkWiens]

Kuppz5 Thank you

[@flosscake]

Love the direction your videos are taking mark, the first person tourist perspective is really engaging. Having said that, I do occasionally go back to check out your earlier stuff too. Hope you get to keep doing what you do.

[@padthoachiangmai5341]

ยอดเยี่ยมครับ😍

[@mengng219]

Beautiful and peaceful place. Would like to visit one of these days. The cat is well behaved and knew not to jump up on the table. Glad you fed it.

[@puglissu8893]

I love to see familiar flowers!

[@aishakhan77]

I love how well edited this video is. Ying is so adorable! Keep up the great work Mark

[@MarkWiens]

aisha khan Thank you very much Aisha

[@joyfullyorganic]

The village looks so beautiful just like in the philippines

[@MarkWiens]

joyfullyorganic Thank you Joy. Oh yes, definitely could be some places in the Philippines - so many beautiful places.

[@adriantan8764]

superb photography and nice choice of authentic Thai music ! keep up the good work bro !! you're certainly the best !

[@abrahamdelgado7958]

beautiful...

[@jmchan7982]

Oh i really can't wait for thailand trip, well at least i can watch your vids, i already feel like im in thailand.. thanks alot

[@MarkWiens]

JM Chan Hey JM, thank you. When are you coming?

[@jmchan7982]

Mark Wiens you're welcome.. im still not sure about the exact date.. but surely it will be next year.. can we meet? :) im also planning to enter Silom cooking school.

[@Pujan1000]

beautiful place.. seems similar to hills of Nepal....

[@MarkWiens]

Arsenal Thank you, yes, starting to get more towards that area too!

[@amristar736]

The food and the place is great. Beautiful video.

[@MarkWiens]

Amristar Thank you

[@Butch1949]

You are lucky to get to see that much country.

[@lisibo4278]

Love ur videos!!!!!!!

[@corneliuswebster8323]

Hi Mark, this a trip with beautiful views. Fantastic place to visit. Will make the trip next year. I miss your original theme music. Regards Cornelius

[@nicosouza5]

Great video as always !

[@MarkWiens]

Nicolás Souza Thank you Nicolas

[@ritankarsasmal5537]

Day by Day ur videos are becoming more n more professional !! Great !!!

[@MarkWiens]

Ritankar Sasmal I really appreciate it Ritankar, I'm really trying to learn and improve as we go along.

[@donnacopas9621]

wow what a beautiful country to visit. thanks for this video as it gives us a truly remarkable visit to areas I did know existed. keep up the wonderful work you are doing. It would educate many to the beauty and foods that most will never get to visit

[@nuinui2313]

wow this is so great vlog

[@vipin_rahul]

nice video...i want to visit that place

[@1_Макарон4ик_1]

Mark, excellent review. Thanks! Very much! I want to Thailand.

[@MarkWiens]

Thank you, I hope you can visit soon.

[@dumbbunnie123]

That's such a sweet cat, I hope you gave him a little treat!

[@deedL3]

aw such a cute cat! food looks amazing as always!

[@MarkWiens]

Dee Her Thank you Dee

[@Kh4lidz]

Oh my god those views though ! Terrific video mark, I hope you enjoyed your time there. Still shocked by those views it's really beautiful.

[@MarkWiens]

Kh4lidz Thank you very much. Yes, those views and the atmosphere was wonderful.

[@cussia-8315]

what a view omggggg

[@rimi5122]

awww the cat is sooooo cute ! hope u gave him some food !

[@MarkWiens]

taesub kyungsoosub Yes, we fed the cat!

[@pvultureb8341]

If it was a dog, it would have gotten kicked out.

[@robotdogjoe]

Beautiful

[@umpaumpalumpa]

I hope you shared with the kitty. He looked so cute.

[@evogardens]

Hey guys, Oh man, that pork knuckle had me drooling! Excellent work as usual Ying & Mark. Jim.

[@MarkWiens]

evogardens Thank you Jim

[@sundaypaw6007]

OMG! I used to live in Mae Salong and arrived to U.S. 8 years ago. (: Thanks for making this video Mr.Mark. 😀😀

[@michaelbishop7145]

Great video Mark, it was nice to Ying in the video also. I know when I go to places with my Ying she is the one who gets me all my info as well as get me the local rates. maybe yo u can do a video on Loy Krathong I will be there for this festival this year. Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing more of you and Ying.

[@TabbyAngel2]

Cute kitty! Thank you Mark for a beautiful video. I'm going to definately visit this beautiful village one day when I am rich enough to travel hehe :)

[@khamis93]

really very nice video. .thanks

[@alvinboi80]

i read slowly too...สู้ๆๆน่ะ..เด๋วก้จะดีขึ้นครับ

[@linited]

That village looks beautiful! The sunflower with all the seeds looked awesome, never seen one before like that. Thanks for another great video Mark.

[@MarkWiens]

You're welcome, thank you for watching linited

[@kingquefaz]

Mark Wiens Hey Mark, loving the videos! Do you travel alone? Just subbed!

[@MarkWiens]

kingquefaz Just myself and my wife.

[@kingquefaz]

Mark Wiens Thanks sir!

[@bananamonkey5693]

+Mark Wiens Is That Ying?

[@dyerdanforth9030]

Awesome, Mark.

[@MarkWiens]

Dyer Danforth Thank you Dyer

[@krisissocoollike]

LOL that cat was so cute.

[@TheRailwayTracker]

Ying is looking really gorgeous with that attire...!

[@xiaoxinxin99]

As a yunnanese myself, I am surprised to see this beautiful village that preserves my culture and yet, untainted by urbanization and excessive development. Good find mark! This will be my must visit list.

[@MarkWiens]

Hey Xin Jin great to hear that. Hope you can visit Mae Salong. Are you still living in Yunnan now?

[@RidamB]

love the way how Ying corrects u all the time! haha!

[@MarkWiens]

Ridam Bhattacharjee Haha, I need it!

[@Riz2336]

You visited some really cool spots.

[@MarkWiens]

Riz2336 Thanks for watching.

[@nemok9905]

Have fun watching.

[@Saungkyelphyu]

Hi Mark, Your travel video is nice. I love the scenery of gree tea plantation. Unlike other video, Ying is eating this time. Nice to see her.

[@MarkWiens]

Saungkyelphyu Haha, yes she was very hungry. Thank you for watching.

[@tometiger47]

Mark you should show more of Ying and let her describe what is in all that mouth watering food...yummy

[@SiriMitiska]

I especially like this one because you included the scenery and foods review along with the prices. It gives a complete picture of being in Thailand. I have never been to Chiang Rai but seeing your video makes me want to venture out there. Thanks Mark!

[@MarkWiens]

***** I really appreciate your kind feedback, that's very helpful. Thank you for watching, and hope you can visit Chiang Rai in the future!

[@IIISIONIII]

Fantastic video! Love the kitty cat in the video... Ha ha ha ha...

[@MarkWiens]

IIISIONIII Thank you

[@cheskydivision]

That looked like fun, nice to see the Mrs in front of the camera for a change.

[@MarkWiens]

***** Thank you for watching!

[@robotman007]

On my last trip to Thailand I went up to Doi Mae Salong and I found it thoroughly enjoyable. I hope to return on my next trip and spend a few days there hiking, relaxing (and eating food!).

[@webjunkienl]

great stuff, mark. thx :)

[@benjisgal54]

very enjoyable video. thanks for feeding the cat..even though the food may not have been the best for his digestion.

[@jarayhavlogs]

Great vlog

[@MarkWiens]

farayha imran Thank you Farayha

[@jayisoldem56]

I watch your videos back to back to back to back to back. You make eating look so much fun and the food so great and tasty. The food looks awesome and delicious and I love when you tour the area of Thailand and you're traveling to different countries. Speaking of different countries are you planning on traveling out of Thailand sometime soon? Mark keep making those videos they're awesome

[@andreeegan586]

Thank you. Incredible INNSIGHT. Thanks Mark

[@husseinten]

Wow.its like you have upgraded your travelling experience .not only you review city foods but also travelling and giving details to everything on the way.plus extra companion (your beautiful wife) Which give a new stir to the review and hope we hear her comments on foods as well. Oh and by the way .may God bless and protect you both from bad gazes .good luck

[@TotallyRandomVid]

Your videos are great!

[@MarkWiens]

TotallyRandomVid Thank you

[@skaz4675]

great VDO mark

[@JSKA980405]

You and your wife are amazing! She's so pretty!!

[@BobbyParrish]

That looks like one heck of a day trip, and some yummy food! Nice vid mark!

[@MarkWiens]

***** Thank you Bobby

[@donnak138]

Mark Wiens That cat is adorable. He's all like "hey friend, care to share that pork with me?" Ha ha!

[@nodmabooker]

it's really great to seen Ying. She beat you to eat(it) mark. :-)

[@Yaqoub_H]

Looks like a really fun trip, Mark! Glad the cat had some of that lunch :)

[@MarkWiens]

***** Thank you for watching!

[@madaiincubationcenter4947]

nice video with well arranged environment on high view, i like ur video br

[@stitchergary]

As much as I enjoy watching you eat fantastic food in Thailand and beyond, it's fantastic to see your wife enjoying the same food... please share the camera duties to allow her in front of the camera too....less than 4 weeks I board the plane for Phuket and I probably would never have done this without watching your videos.....thank you!!!!!

[@melaranas5243]

Hi Ying! I am a big fan.

[@amarmohandutta166]

Greate Video.Mrs Wiens Good Morning....

[@RealSpaceHobo]

Man, that looked beautiful - have to go there too...:-)

[@MarkWiens]

Ledzz Go Thank you, hope you can go.

[@freddymacrambutan9411]

Looks like ya'll had a great time. Can't wait till I see you eat another huge shrimp tiger prawn , ahahahahahahaaaa. I'll be waiting!! Have a great day.

[@drewdeabill6526]

Great one dude very interesting

[@MarkWiens]

Drew Deabill Thank you Drew

[@HallOfFantasy]

That was an enjoyable video.

[@MarkWiens]

Thank you HallOfFantasy